POLYAXDHIA. PoLYGYXIA. ^t 



stipules at t]>e base of tl^e leaves, and involacrum covered 

 \v\Xh a dense and soft siJky pubescence. Leaves 4 or 5- 

 parted, se^^ments cuneate, once or-twice cleft, uliimate 

 divisions bifid or trlfrd, linear, acute, 1 or 2 lines v idc 

 primary sej-nrienis about 2 incites l.ng-. Involucrum cun- 

 shaped, subulately dissected. Petals 6, (never 4,) ex!tr- 

 nally silky, of a pale dull blue inclining to violet, about 

 an inch long, expanding nearly fiat about mid-day. Seeds 

 caudate, and plumose, cauda near 2 inciies. (.?. patens is 

 only about 4 inches high; with ir.fid leaves, segments 5-cleft,- 

 smooth wiih capillary acuminations: iuvolucell approxi- 

 mating towards the flower; petals white, larger) 2 »e- 

 morosa S. iancifAia. Pn. Is this plant sufficiently dis- 

 tinct trom the preceding? 4 cnneifolia. 5. tenella. Pir. 

 Obs. Root bulbous; scape 1-fiowered, involucrate, 4 to 6 

 inches high. L-aves smooth, ternate, leaflets trlfid, 

 toothed. Involucrum 3-parted, segments cuneate, 3-lobed* 

 ejUire. I'etals linear-oblong, 12 to 14, white or blue! 

 o ten elegantly maculate, seeds woolly, but not caudate — 

 F owermg m April. TIab. In elevated plains around the 

 Maha village on the iMissouri. Very nearly allied to A. ah- 

 penma. 6. thaHctroides. 7. narcissifiova. ^. pensylvani- 

 ea. 9. dichotoma. 10. virgimana. Seeds remarkably lanu- 

 gmous towards the base. 



A genus of near 40 species, principally European, ex- 

 lendmg into Siberia, Barbary and the Levant; there are 

 a^so species in Japan, Brasil, and as far as La Plata in. 

 South America. 



585. THALICTRUM. L. (Mcadovv-Kue.) 



Calix none. Petals 4 or 5. Stamina very 

 long. iSm/s ecaudate, striate, terete. 



Herbaceous; leaves twice or thrice ternate, leaflets 

 mostly triad or 3-lobed, flowers in terminal panicles; the 

 American species are mostly dioicous, or polygamous. 



Species. X. T. Coniittl. 2. dioicum. 3. nijosmn. 4. 

 p\besceiis. 5. purp.irasce/is. 6. rammculmum. 



A genus of near 30 species, almost peculiarly indige- 

 nous to Xurtli America and Europe; tlicre is alio 1 spc- 

 cies in Japan and 5 in Siberia. 



586. HYDRASTIS. L. 



Calix none, rdals 3. JWctary none. Ber- 

 r// coinp)uritl, gr'annlations l-seetled. 



