s 



Delphinium Staphisagna are vermifugal and caustic ; those of Aquilegia are 

 simply tonic. Dec. 



M. Decandolle makes the following division in this order : 



I. TRUE RANUNCULACEjE. 



Anthers bursting outwardly. 



§ 1. Clematide.^. 

 Dec. Sijst. 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 in 

 durated style). Seed pendulous. Leaves opposite. 

 Examples. Clematis, Naravelia. 



§ 2. AnemonejE. 



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



Aestivation of calyx and corolla imbricated. Petals none, or plane. Car- 

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

 lous. Leaves radical, or alternate. 



Examples. Anemone, Thalictrum. 



§ 3. RaNUNCULEjE. 



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



Aestivation of calyx and corrolla imbricated. Petals 2-lipped, or furnished 

 with an interior scale at the base. Carpella 1-seeded, dry, indehiscent. .Seed 

 erect. Leaves radical, or alternate. 



Examples. Ranunculus, Myosurus. 



§ 4. Hellebores. 



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



Aestivation of calyx and corolla imbricated. Petals either none, or irregu- 

 lar, 2-lipped, and nectariferous. Calyx petaloid. Carpella capsular, dehiscent, 

 many-seeded. 



Examples. Eranthis, Trollius, Aconitum. 



II. SPURIOUS RANUNCULACE^E. 



Anthers bursting inwardly. 



Examples. Acteea, Xanthorhiza, Pseonia. 



IV. PAPAVERACE^E. The Poppy Tribe. 



Papaveraceje, Juss. Gen. 236, (1789) in part; Dec. Syst. 2. 67. (1818) ; Prodr. 1. 117. (1824) ; 

 Lindl. Synops. 16. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, con- 

 crete carpella, a 1-celled ovarium, narrow parietal placenta^ 2 sepals, and a re- 

 gular corolla. 



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

 pecoum has the inner petals 3-lobed. Eschscholtzia has perigynous sta- 

 mens. 



Essential Chabacter.— Sepals 2, deciduous. Petals hypogynous, either 4, or some mul- 

 tiple of that number, placed in a cruciate manner. Stainens hypogynous, cither 8, or some 



