slirub contains both a gum and resin, each of which is intensely bitter. 

 Ibid. 2. 205. The seeds of Nigella saliva were formerly employed instead 

 of pepper; those of Delphinium Staphisagria are vermifugal and caustic j 

 those of Aquilegia are simply tonic. Dec. 



M. DecandoUe makes the following divisions in this order: — 



I. TRUE RANUNCULACEiE. 



Anthers bursting outwardly. 



§ 1. Clematide.e. ' 



Bee. Syst. 1. 131. (1818); Prodr. 1. 2. (1824.) 



jEstivation of the calyx valvate, or induplicate. Petals none, or plane: 

 Carpella indehiscent, 1-seeded, terminated by a bearded tail (which is the 

 indurated style). Seed pendulous. Leaves opposite. 



Examples. Clematis, Naravelia. 



§ 2. ANEMONEiE. 



Dec. Sijst. 1. 168. (1818); Prodr. 1. 10. (1824.) 



Estivation of calyx and corolla imbricated. Petals none, or plane. 

 Carpella 1-seeded, indehiscent, usually terminated by a tail or point. Seed 

 pendulous. Leaves radical, or alternate. 



Examples. Anemone, Thalictrum. 



§ 3. Ranunculeje. 



Dec. Syst. 1. 228. (1818); Prodr. 1. 25. (1824.) 



Estivation of calyx and corolla imbricated. Petals 2-lipped, or fur- 

 nished with an interior scale at the base. Carpella 1-seeded, dry, indehis- 

 cent. Seed erect. Leaves radical, or alternate. 



Examples. Ranunculus, Myosurus. 



§ 4. Hellebore;e. 



Dec. Sijst. 1. 306. (1818); Prodr. 1. 44. (1824.) 



Estivation of calyx and corolla imbricated. Petals either none, or 

 irregular, 2-lipped, and nectariferous. Calyx petaloid. Carpella capsular, 

 dehiscent, many-seeded. 



Examples. Eranthis, Trollius, Aconitum. 



II. SPURIOUS RANUNCULACEiE. 



Anthers bursting inwardly. 



Examples. Acttea, Xanthorhiza, Pgeonia. 



IV. PAPAVERACEiE. The Poppy TRinF.. 



Papaverace^e, Juhs. Gen. 23G. (l/H!*) in part; Dec. Syst. 2. C?. (l«lli); Prodr. 1. 117. 

 (1824); Lindl. Synops. Hi. (I«2».) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, 

 concrete carpella, a 1-cellcd ovarium, narrow parietal placentae, 2 sepals, 

 and a regular corolla. 



Anomalies. Bocconia has no petals, and a monospermous capsule. 

 Hypecoum has the inner petals 3-lobed. Eschscholtzia has perigynous 

 stamens. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 2, deciduous. Petals hypf)gynoii.s, either 4, or 

 some multiple of that number, placed in a cruciate manner. Stamens hypogynous, either 8, 



