PHANEROGAMIA, OR FLOWERING PLANTS 



The number of British genera is added in brackets after each family 



CLASS I 



DICOTYLEDONES 



Seeds formed of two or more cotyledons. 

 Stems formed of vascular tissue, sometimes en- 

 closing pith, and surrounded by rind or bark. 

 In trees the trunks are formed of concentric layers, 

 one of which is supposed to be added every year. 

 Leaves with branching and reticulating veins. 

 Young plants always furnished with a tap-root. 

 Flowers (when the corolla is present) with 4 or 5 

 petals (most frequently 5), rarely more. 



Sub-class I. Thalamiflorae 



Petals separate, and rising, as well as the 

 stamens, near the ovary, and not from the calyx. 



Order I. Ranunculacea (15 genera) 



These are herbaceous plants, with brightly 

 coloured flowers. The calyx is always present ; 

 it has from 3 to 6 sepals, and is often brightly 

 coloured, resembling a corolla. The corolla is 

 sometimes composed of from 4 to 15 petals, in 

 one or several rows, but is frequently rudimentary 

 or absent. The stamens are numerous, and the 

 anthers burst longitudinally. The carpels are 

 usually numerous. 



Though the flowers are attractive to insects, 

 by which they are often fertilised, many of the 

 plants belonging to this Order are extremely acrid, 

 and frequently highly poisonous, though the 

 poisonous principle is volatile, and may sometimes 

 be dissipated by heat. 



