RANUNCULACEA. 431 
Seeds with a minute embryo, and homogeneous horny albumen, 
anatropous. 
Division of the Order and Illustrative Genera.—The order may 
be divided into five tribes as follows :— 
Tribe 1. Clematidex. Calyx valvate (fig. 792) or induplicate. 
Fruit consisting of a number of achenes. Seed pendulous. 
IWustrative Genus :—Clematis, Linn. 
Tribe 2. Anemonex. Calyx imbricate, usually coloured. Fruit 
consisting of a number of achenes. Seed pendulous. Jilus- 
trative Genus:—Anemone, Haller. 
Tribe 3. Ranwnewlex. Calyx imbricate (fig. 870). Fruit con- 
sisting of a number of achenes. Seed erect. Illustrative 
Genus :—Ranunculus, Linn. 
Tribe 4. Helleborex. Calyx imbricate. Petals irregular or none. 
Fruit consisting of one or more whorls of many-seeded follicles 
( fig. 873), which are sometimes united below; or rarely baccate. 
Illustrative Genera :—Aconitum, Linn. ; Cimicifuga, Ellictt. 
Tribe 5. Pxoniex. Calyx imbricate. Fruit consisting of from 
2-5 follicles, which are more or less surrounded at the base 
by a cup-shaped disk (fig. 580). Illustrative Genus :—Pzeonia, 
Linn. 
Distribution and Numbers.—These plants occur chiefly in cold 
damp climates, and are almost unknown in the tropics, except 
on mountains. The order includes about 600 species. 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this order generally 
abound in an acrid principle, which in some is even vesicant. 
This acridity is, however, very volatile, so that in most cases it 
is dissipated by drying, or by infusing them in boiling, or even 
sometimes in cold water ; it varies also in different parts of the 
same plant, and even in the same parts at different seasons. 
Some plants contain in addition a narcotic principle ; and when 
these principles are in excess they are virulent poisons. Gene- 
rally the plants of this order are to be regarded with suspicion, 
although some are simply bitter and tonic. ‘ 
Aconitum.—Some species of this genus are very virulent poisons. The 
dried root of Aconitum ferox, which is known as Nepal or Indian aconite, 
has been usually considered to be the sole source of the celebrated Indian 
drug and poison, ‘ Bikh’ or ‘ Bish’ but this is also obtained indifferently 
from A. Napellus, A. uncinatum, A. palmatum, and probably others.— 
Aconitum Napellus, a European species, commonly called Monkshood, is the 
official plant of the British Pharmacopeia. The leaves, flowering tops, and 
root (more especially the latter), are poisonous, but when used in proper 
doses they are sedative, anodyne, and diuretic. Several fatal cases of 
poisoning have occurred from the root having been mistaken for Horse- 
radish. The other European species are almost inert. The properties of 
the above species are especially due to at least two powerful alkaloids, called 
aconitine and pseud-aconitine. The official aconitine is a mixture of these 
alkaloids, and probably others, in varying proportions, and has been much 
used externally in neuralgia and chronic rheumatism, and also occasionally 
internally in rheumatism and other diseases, but it is a dangerous remedy 
for internal use. The fresh leaves and flowering tops, the dried root, and 
