56 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
(which is much shorter than the other), together with the inner side 
of the tube, is apparently a great development of the scale which so 
frequently covers the nectary in the genus Ranunculus; and the 
tubular form of the petal results from the adnation of the edges of 
this enlarged scale to those of the limb of the petal. Follicles on 
separate stalks, brownish, faintly wrinkled transversely, terminated 
by the persistent styles, which form the beak or mucro at the apex 
of the carpel, as in the genera Caltha and Trollius. 
Common Winter Aconite. 
French, Lranthis d’Hiver. German, Winterling. 
The generic name of Eranthis is derived from no (er), the spring, and ay6oc (anthos), 
a flower, because the bright yellow blossoms appear in the early spring. The specific 
name hyemalis signifies in Latin winterly. Its chief attraction is the early period of 
the year at which it blossoms, when few other flowers are to be met with. 
GENUS X—HELLEBORUS. Linn. 
Sepals 5, sub-equal, herbaceous, occasionally petaloid, persistent. 
Petals 5 to 12, much shorter than the sepals, tubular, slightly 
2-lipped or obliquely truncate at the apex. Carpels 8 to 10, in 
1 whorl, sessile or sub-sessile, having the ovules arranged in 2 rows. 
Follicles dehiscent at the apex, free or slightly adhering at the base, 
sessile, or all on one common stalk when stipitate. Seeds witha hard 
shining testa. Flowers not involucrate. 
SPECIES I—-HELLEBORUS VIRIDIS. Linn. 
Puate XLIV.* 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. LV. Ran. Tab. CI. Fig. 4718. 
Stem few-flowered. Radical leaves pedate-digitate. Uppermost 
bracts palmately divided, or cleft, or serrated. Sepals spreading, 
scarcely concave. Petals as long as the stamens. Follicles sessile. 
In woods and copses. Rare. It has been recorded from most 
of the English counties, but in many of them is certainly intro- 
duced, and in others only a doubtful native. I have seen it near 
Sittingbourne, in Kent, in copses on the chalk, where I believe it 
to be really indigenous ; and Professor Oliver is quoted in the Cybele 
* The Plate is re-drawn from E, B, 200 by Mr. J. E, Sowerby, and a radical leaf 
added by him. 
