FLORA MEDICA. 



RANUNCULACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 5. 

 CLEMATIS. 



Involucre 0, or resembling a calyx below the flower. Sepals 

 4-8 coloured, valvate. Petals or shorter than the sepals. 

 Achenia numerous, terminated by a long feathery hardened, 

 tail-like style. Seed pendulous. — Perennials usually with per- 

 manent half-shrubby stems. Leaves exactly opposite. 



The species of this genus are generally acrid, and raise blisters when 

 applied in a fresh state to the skin ; but they lose the property by dry- 

 ing or exposure to heat. The following have been more particularly 

 noticed : — 



1. C. erecta All. ped. No. 1078. DC. prodr. i. 2. — C. recta 

 Linn. sp. pi. 767. Jacq. austr. t. 291. — Hills and woods in 

 the south of Europe. 



Stem herbaceous, erect, about 2 feet high, somewhat angular, stri- 

 ated, nearly smooth. Leaves opposite, pinnated with 2 pairs and an 

 odd one, smooth above, hairy beneath ; leaflets ovate, acuminate, 

 stalked, entire. The leaves are occasionally simple, cordate and angu- 

 lar, and not unfrequently ternate. Umbels irregular, terminal, panicled, 

 quite erect. Pedicels downy. Sepals linear-obovate, white, spreading, 

 downy, much longer than the stamens. Ripe carpels seldom more 

 than 2 to each pedicel, ovate, brown, smooth, with a feathery tail. — 

 Much recommended by Storck in obstinate cachectic diseases ; the 

 powdered leaves have been also used as an escharotic. 



2. C. Flammula Linn. sp. pi. 766. DC. prodr. i. 2 



Hedges and thickets in the south of Europe and North of 

 Africa. 



Stem climbing and forming large entangled masses of angular, 

 slightly downy half-herbaceous branches. Leaves pinnated ; segments 

 smooth, entire or 3-lobed, orbicular, oval, oblong, or nearly linear, 

 somewhat acute. Flowers small, white, in large loose panicles, ex- 

 tremely fragrant. Petals i-J inch long, linear, obtuse, downy, 

 much longer than the stamens. Carpels extremely shaggy. — Leaves 

 used as vesicatories. 



1 B 



