RANUNCULACEJE, 23 ACONITPM. 



1. T. AmERICA'NUS. Mu. T. laxus. P. 



Sepals 5, oblong, spreading ; petals shorter than the stamens. A plant with 

 the general habit of a Ranunculus. In swamps. About afoot high. Leaves 

 palmate, deeply cleft in 5 segments which are lobed and cut-dentate. Sepals 

 yellow, resembling petals, 3-4 inch in length. Petals very small, orange- 

 colored. Capsules about 10, crowned with the pusistent styles. This is the 

 only American species, and is happily named by Dr. Muhlenburgh in refer- 

 ence to the two others which follow. June. Per. American Globe Flower. 



2. T. EuROP^'us. 



Sepals closely converging ; petals equal to the stamens. Native of Europe. 

 Stem 2 or 3 feet high, erect, branching, leafy. Leaves deeply divided into 

 many wedge-shaped, acute, cut and toothed lobes. Flowers solitary, at the 

 naked summits of the branches, erect, globular, about an inch wide, of a fine 

 yellow. A very ornamental flower, of easy culture from seeds or roots. May. 

 June. European Globe Flower. 



T. ASIA'TICUS. 



Sepals spreading; petals longer than the stamens. Native of Asia. About 

 2 feet high. An ornamental flower, like the preceding, of easy culture. Flow- 

 ers more open, and of a fine orange color. Asiatic Globe Flower. 



J3. AQUILE'GIA. 

 Calyx 5-sepaled, colored, caducous; petals 5, each terminating 

 behind in a spurred nectary ; styles 5; follicles 5; many-seeded. 



Lat. aquila, the eagle ; the inverted »purs of the petals have been likened 

 to the talons of a bird of prey. Cal. inf of 5, equal, ovate, spreading leaves, 

 resembling petals. Cor. of 5 equal petals, alternating with the sepals, each 

 tubular, dilated at the mouth, the outer margin erect, the inner attached to the 

 torus, extended behind into a long, spurred nectary. Fil. 30 — '10, the inner 

 ones longer and barren. Ova. 5, oblong, tapering into the style. 



1. A. Canade'nsis. 



Spurs straight ; stijJes and stamens exserted ; rahjx rather acute, longer than 

 the corolla; divisions of the leaves 3-parted, rather obtuse, cut-dentate. This 

 beautiful plant grows wild in most of the States, in dry soils, generally on 

 the sunny side of rocks. It is cultivated with tlie greatest ease, and is much 

 more delicate in foliage and in the hues of its flowers, than the common blue 

 Columbine. Stem branching, a foot high, with ternate, lobed leaves. Flow- 

 ers terminal, scarlet without and yellow within, pendulous, much embellished 

 by the numerous, descending, yellow stamens and styles. Fruit erect. May. 

 Per. iVild Columbine. 



2. A. vulga'ris. 



Spurs incurved; stems leafy, many-flowered; leaves nearly smooth, stijles 

 not lonsref than the stamens. A hardy perennial, from Europe, well known 

 in gardens. Stems 1 — 2 feet high, with a profusion of handsome, smooth foli- 

 age, and large blue flowers. In cultivation, the flowers become double by 

 the multiplication of the hollow, spurred petals. They also vary in color 

 throu"-h all the shades between blue and white. Jn. Per. Common Columbine. 



14. ACONI'TUM. 



Calyx of 5 sepals, colored, the upper one vaulted ; corolla 

 of 5 jetals, the upper 3 minute, the lower 2 on long claws. 



