34 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 
amongst the Caryophyllacee the Sandworts and 
Pearlworts do not all possess both, and amongst 
Rosacez, Alchemilla and Great Burnet, the Golden 
Saxifrage amongst Saxifrages, many of the Starworts, 
Purple Loosestrife group, and one of the Willow 
herb groups. 
The petals also may be united or coherent in the 
Fumitory Group, Milkwort Group, Portulacee, 
Mallow Group, Holly Group, in Pennywort, and the 
White Bryony. 
The Thalamiflore all agree in having the petals 
inserted on the receptacle or thalamus, that is, 
hypogynous, being free from the calyx, or on a disc 
at the apex of the pedicel. The stamens being hypo- 
gynous spring from the base of the ovary, which is 
therefore here superior. 
In the Waterlily and in some Pinks the stamens 
may be perigynous or epigynous. 
The ovary or pistil may be apocarpous, consisting 
of one or more carpels distinct from each other as in 
Ranunculaceze and Berberidacez, or be syncarpous, 
the carpels being united into one ovary as in most 
species. 
THE BUTTERCUP GROUP. 
A representative, such as the Buttercup, of the 
Order Ranunculacez, as the name implies, being 
derived from Rana, a frog, is usually to be found in 
a damp situation, the habitat of frogs, boggy ground, 
ditches, etc. 
