122 CLASS POLYANDRIA. 



The Anemone, of the Ranunculaceje, is a genu- 

 of which you will find some of the species very early 

 in flower in the shade of the forest, particularly the 

 A. nemorosa, growing in spreading clusters, and thick- 

 ly scattered, with the stem low, bearing 3 leaves, all 

 connected together at the base ; the segments are 5- 

 parted, deeply toothed, lanceolate, and acute. Above 

 these comes out a similar involucrum ; and only a 

 single white, or externally reddish or purplish, bell- 

 shaped flower of 6 parts, resembling petals, but being 

 rather a calyx. The character of the genus is, to 

 have a 3-leaved involucrum distant from the flower, 

 with its leaflets divided. The calyx is petaloid, with 

 from 5 to as many as 15 leaves. There are no 

 proper petals in this view. The seeds are numerous, 

 and either, as in the Pulsatillas, ending in long plu- 

 mose awns, or naked of this appendage ; and in 

 some species, as in A. virginica and others, produc- 

 ing a copious quantity of wool at their base. These 

 ought properly to be separated, at least, from the 

 Pulsatillas, which have the plumose seeds of Cle- 

 matis. 



Hepatica has been removed from Anemone, from 

 which it differs, no doubt, in general aspect. This 

 has a 3-leaved, undivided involucrum, near the 

 flower, and so resembling a calyx. The petaloid 

 calyx (commonly blue, sometimes white, or red) has 

 6 or 9 leaves, or even more in H. acuta, disposed in 

 more than one series, and the seeds are without awns 

 or down. These are very early flowering, evergreen 

 plants, with 3-lobed leaves, hence called Liverwort. 

 The flowers grow in considerable clusters, particularly 

 when cultivated, and then often occur double. 



The Ranunculus (Crowfoot or Buttercup), giving 

 name to a natural order, of which we have already 

 quoted several genera, has flowers (commonly yellow) 



