THALAMIFLOR^. 



4^5 



regular or irregular, green or rarelj petaloid, deciduous or 

 A'ery rarely jDersistent ; sestivation generally imbricate, some- 



Fig 840. Fig. MX. 



Fig. 840. Diagram of the Flower of a species of Eammculus. Fig. 841. Vertical 



section of the flower ot Ranunculus acris. c. Calyx, pe. Petals, e. Stamens. 



p, Carpels Fig. 842. Adnate anther of a Ranunculaceous plant Fig. 



843. Numerous follicles of Trollius europceus Fig. 844. Vertical section of 



the seed of the Monkshood (J co?i/«i«7n). sp. Coverings of the seed. ew6. Embryo. 



a7b. Albumen Fig. 845. Vertical section of a carpel of Ranunculus acris. o. 



Ovary, g. Ovule, s. Stigma. 



times valvate or induplicate. Corolla of 3 — 15 distinct petals, 

 regular or irregular, sometimes absent. Stamens numerous 

 (Jigs. 840 and 841), or very rarely few, hypogynous (Jig. 

 841, e); anthers adnate (Jig. 842), bursting longitudinaUr. 

 Carpels numerous (Jig. 840), distinct, one-celled (Jig. 845) 

 or united below so as to form a compound many-celled 

 ovary ; ovary with one (Jig. 845, g) or many ovules ; ovules 

 anatropal, attached to tlie ventral suture (Jig. 845) ; styles 

 simple. Fruit various, either consisting of a number of ach^enia 

 (Jig. 841,/?), or of several follicles (Jig. 843), or a one or more 

 seeded berry. Seeds solitary or numerous, when solitary erect or 

 pendulous; embryo minute (Jig. 844, emb), at the base of homoge- 

 neous horny albumen. 



F F 2 



