igS 78. RANUNCULACEAE 



superior, solitary or separate, rarely (Nigella) united. Ovules inverted. Seeds 

 with a straight embryo and copious albumen. — Genera 11, species 140. (Plate 

 46.) 



1. Carpels containing each a single perfect ovule and sometimes some rudi- 



mentary ones, separate, indehiscent. [Tribe ANEMONEAE.] . . 2 

 Carpels containing several perfect ovules each, dehiscing at the suture . 7 



2. Petals with a pit or scale at the base or the middle 3 



Petals without a pit or scale, or wanting. Ovule pendulous .... 4 



3. Ovule pendulous. Carpels arranged in a spike. Sepals with a short 



spur, yellowish. Petals narrow. Stamens few. Pericarp without a 

 hardened layer. Small herbs. Leaves radical, undivided, linear. — Species 

 2. North-west Africa. Poisonous plants. "Mousetail." Myosurus L. 

 Ovule ascending. Pericarp with a hardened layer. — Species 50. Many of 

 them are poisonous, some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. 

 (Including Ceratocephalus Pers. and Ficaria Dill.) . . Ranunculus L. 



4. Ovary and fruit with 1^3 longitudinal veins or without veins. Ovule 



with a single coat 5 



Ovary and fruit with 4 or more longitudinal or transverse veins. Ovule 

 with 2 coats. Leaves alternate or all radical 6 



5. Leaves opposite. Herbs or more frequently climbing shrubs. Perianth- 



segments 4 — 8, petal-like, usually valvate in the bud. — Species 40. 

 Many of them are poisonous ; some are used as ornamental or medicinal 



plants Clematis L. 



Leaves radical and alternate, or the uppermost whorled. Herbs, rarely 

 low shrubs. Perianth-segments 4 — 20, imbricate in the bud. — Species 

 15. North, Sguth, and East Africa. Several are poisonous ; some are 

 used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Including Krwwltonia Salisb.) 

 (Plate 46.) Anemone L. 



6. Perianth simple, of 3 — 5 segments. Carpels inserted upon a flat receptacle, 



marked with longitudinal veins. Flowers in racemes or cymes. — 

 Species 4. Poisonous plants, used for dyeing and in medicine. 



Thalictrum L. 



Perianth of 5 sepals and 5 — 16 petals. Carpels inserted upon a cylindrical 



receptacle, marked with transverse veins. Flowers soUtary, terminal. — 



Species 4. North Africa. Poisonous, also used in medicine and as 



ornamental plants Adonis L. 



7. (i.) Perianth consisting of 5 or more sepals and 5 — 8 red, not glandular 



petals. Stamens united at the base, slightly perigynous. Carpels 

 several, separate, fleshy. Outer coat of the ovules longer than the inner. 

 — Species i. North-west Africa. Poisonous and used as an orna- 

 mental and medicinal plant. [Tribe PAEONIEAE.] Paeonia L. 

 Perianth consisting of 5 petal-like, usually blue sepals and i — 8 glandular 

 petals (nectaries). Stamens free, hypogynous. Carpels not fleshy. 

 Outer coat of the ovules as long as or shorter than the inner. [Tribe 

 HELLEBOREAE.l 8 



