ILLUSTRATIONS 
OF 
INDIAN BOTANY. 
- RANUNCULACES. 
The species of this Order are nearly all extra-tropical. In India, a few only have as yet 
been found on the plains, but there are a considerable number natives of the higher hills. 
The members of this family are for the most part readily distinguished by their habit, and 
by the analogy of their organization. The calyx; consists of several distinct, deciduous sepals, 
often coloured, or petaloid, and in the absence of petals performing the functions of both 
organs; in nu umber, dictaowa from 3 to 15, the estivation, ee y, imbricating, but some- 
times valvular, or with the edges folded in, as in matis. Corolla; sometimes want- 
ing, - in most the species of Clematis and Thalictram; or composed of from 5 to 15 
distinct petals. Stamens; usually numerous, anthers adnate, opening — inserted with 
the peicke below the pistils. Pistils; usually united in form of a head in the centre of the 
ower; ovaries, each, one celled, with a single ovule, (aechnia) or many siatad and capsular, 
as in Aconite and some others ; style always lateral, sometimes very long and plumose. Seeds 
albuminous, when solitary, either erect, or pen ulous from the apex of the cell. Embryo 
minute, enclosed ina hor rny albumen. Plants ts, usually, herbaceous, with exsti-pulate leaves, 
sheathing at the base, generally, much divided; more rarely, scandent shrubs: the hairs, when 
present, simple. 
ough generally an easily recognised order, the Ranunculacee have strong affinities with 
some other orders, which however, differ widely among themselves. Ido not think it neces- 
sary to indicate here their more remote and less striking affinities, but will briefly mention 
a few of their nearest allies. 
With Dilleniacee and Magnoliacee, they associate in the position, number and_ structure 
of their parts of fructification ; but from the former, they are separated by the want of an aril to 
the seed, their deciduous calyx, and generally, by their very different habit. This last dis- 
tinction is however weakened, through the twining habit of Tetracera and Delema associat- 
ing them with the fruticose and scandent genera Clematis and Naravelia, while the herbace- 
it and sheathing leaves of Acrotrema, associate it with the more common herbaceous 
forms. From Magnoliacee they are readily distinguished by the absence of stipules, differ- 
ence of sensible qualities, and habit, With Biaksen, though differing toto ccelo in por sen- 
