18 LAWSOlSr: EEVISION OF THE 



poisons. lu some, the acid or poisonous principle is so A'olatile as to be removable by- 

 drying or boiling. Aconitum Napellus, which yields the powerful alkaloid Acouitine, was 

 iised by the Romans as a poison, and has of late years been the cause of fatal accidents in 

 England, where the root had been mistaken for horse-radish. A. ferox was at one time 

 used by the natives in India to poison wells in advance of the British troops. Ranunculus 

 acris, Flammnla and sceleratus have been employed in Europe for blistering, instead of 

 cantharides. Anemone Hepatica, and Delphinium are astringents ; Hellehorus, a drastic 

 purgative ; Hi/draslia Canadensis, a tonic ; Coptis tri/olia, a powerful bitter ; Xanthorhiza 

 apiifolia, a tonic bitter. The berries of Adœa are poisonous, the roots anti-spasmodic, 

 expectorant, astringent, — used in cases of catarrh. Cimicifuga has similar properties, and 

 its preparations haA'e of late years come into use in rheumatic affections ; its astringent 

 bitter root is a reputed remedy for rattle-snake bites. Few of these plants can be used as 

 food or fodder. Pcanunculus repens is eaten by cattle. The small starchy tubers of R. 

 Ficaria have been cooked as an article of food in Austria ; CaJlha paiustris is used in New 

 England in spring as a pot-herb, and C. leptosepala is boiled and used as greens by 

 the silver minei-s on the Eocky Mountains of the South.' 



Conspectus of Geneka. 



Tkibb I. CliEMATIDE^E. Sepals valvate. Petals 0, or narrow staminoid processes. Carpels numerous, 

 one-ovuled. Ovule pendulous, raphe dorsal. Achenia indéhiscent. Stem herbaceous, or usually woody and 

 climbing. Leaves opposite. 

 G«nus 1. CLEMATIS. 



Tribe IL AW^EMO^E.il3. Sepals imbricate. Carpels one-ovuled. Ovule pendulous, raphe dorsal. Achenia 

 indéhiscent. Herbs. Leaves radical, alternate or involucrate. 



* Petals or very small, not hollowed. 

 Genus 2. THALICTRUM. Involucre 0. Sepals 4-5. 



Genus 3. ANEMONE. Involucre formed of a verticil of floral leaves, rarely 0. Sepals several or numerous, 



petaloid. 



** Petals hollowed mit or tubular. 



Gronus 4. MYOSURUS. Sepals spurred at the base. Petals slender. Achenia spicate (oh an elongated receptacle) . 



Tribe III. KAKUXCULiE^E. Sepals imbricate. Carpels one-ovuled. Ovule ascending, raphe ventral. 

 Achenia indéhiscent. Herbs. Leaves radical or alternate. 

 Genus 5. TRAUTVETTERIA. Petals 0. 

 Genus 6. RANUNCULUS. Sepals caducous. Petals usually 5 or more. 



Tedse IV. HEIiliEBOBEyE. Sepals imbricate. Petals small, or abnormal in form, or 0. Carpels many- 

 ovuled, dehiscing when ripe, or rarely baccate. Herbs. Leaves radical or alternate, the involucrate ones 

 similar. 



Subtribe 1. Calthbjb. Leaves palmati-nerved or palmatisect. Flowers regular, solitary, or in panicles. 



* Petals 0. 



Genus 7. CALTHA. Ovules in a double series along the ventral suture. 

 Genus 8. HYDRASTIS. Ovules 2. Carpels baccate. 



** Petals small or slender. 

 Genus 9. TROLLIUS. Sepals usually deciduous. Petals entire. 

 Subtribe 2. Isopïee^. Leaves ternate, sub-pinnate, or decompound. Flowers regular, solitary, or in panicles. 



' For elaborate details in regard to some of the active principles of Ranunculaceous plants, particularly 

 Anemonin, Anemonic, and Anemoniuic Acids, see Lloyds' Drugs and Medicines of N. America, vol. i., No. 3, 

 October, 1884. 



