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A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



Anemone), Thalictrum (Meadow Rue), Paeonia (Peony), Trollius (Globe 

 Flower), Adonis (Pheasant's Eye), Aquilegia (Columbine), Delphinium 

 (Larkspur), and Aconitum (Monkshood). 



Fig. 1475. — Caltha palustris. Flowering shoot and a single flower in face view. 



The plants, with the exception of the genus Clematis, are herbaceous with 

 alternate or radical leaves. The plants generally perennate by sympodial 

 rhizomes, the primary root being lost and replaced by adventitious roots, 

 the latter often becoming tuberous, e.g., Aconitum and Ranunculus ficaria 

 (Fig. 1476) (Lesser Celandine). A few species are annuals. 



The flowers are often solitary and terminal [e.g., Anemone) (Fig. 1477) 

 but where an inflorescence is produced it is in most cases cymose. Racemose 

 inflorescences are seen in Aconitum and Delphinium. The flower is herma- 

 phrodite, the parts being wholly or partly spiral in arrangement (Fig. 1478). 

 The symmetry is usually actinomorphic, or rarely zygomorphic as in 

 Aconitum and Delphinium. 



The perianth often shows no distinction of calyx and corolla, but is 

 usually simple and petaloid, and is often associated with nectar-secreting 

 structures of various forms, which are considered to be usually modified 

 petals, though in some genera they are developed in association with sepals, 

 stamens or carpels. 



The androecium is hypogynous, the stamens being free and generally 

 indefinite in number. The anthers are basifixed and extrorse, with two 

 loculi. 



The gynoecium is apocarpous. The carpels are usually numerous or 



