«0 SWISS FLOWERS. 



41. Bupleurum ranunculoides. 



(PLATE XL.) 



This curious little plant (Fig. 41) , which at first sight 

 looks like a green Ranunculus^ as its name tells, is really 

 one of the Umbels, and its appearance is owing to the in- 

 volucre which, divided into five, surrounds the flowers in 

 the form of a calyx, or corolla. These flowers are on little 

 stalks, but, as altogether they do not exceed and scarcely 

 equal the involucre, it is their stamens chiefly that are 

 seen. There is a second kind of involucre, consisting of two 

 leaves, where the stem first divides into the umbel (Fig. 41). 

 The plant is about three inches high, the leaves long, 

 linear, and grass-like. Met with commonly in the rocky 

 pastures of the Alps and Jura. 



B. stellatum, a much larger and really handsome plant, 

 is found abundantly in the Engadine mountains : above 

 Pontresina, and the Bernina-Pass. It has somewhat the 

 appearance of a Spurge. 



42. Sambucus racemosa. — Elderberry. 



{PLATE XXIV.) 

 So well is the Elderberry known that any description of it 

 is scarcely necessary. Its creamy blossoms, with their 



