THAXAMIFLOR.^. 425 



berry. Seeds solitary or numerous, when solitary erect or pen- 

 dulous ; embryo minute {fig. 847, emh), at the base of homoge- 

 neous horny albumen, alh. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or rarely shrubs with a watery acrid 

 juice. No stipules separate from the petiole. Sepals, petals, 

 and stamens distinct, hypogynous. Corolla with an imbricated 

 sestivation. Stamens usually numerous, hypogynous ; anthers 

 adnate, bursting longitudinally. Carpels, except in a few in- 

 stances, more or less distinct. Seeds -odthout an aril, and with 

 homogeneous horny albumen, anatropal. 



Division of the Orchr, and Examples of the Genera. — The 

 order is divided into five tribes : — 



Tribe 1. Clematidem. Calyx ralvate or indupHcate. Fruit 

 consisting of a number of achcenia. Seed pendulous. Ex- 

 ample : — Clematis. 



Tribe 2. Anemonece. Calyx imbricated, usually coloured. Fruit 

 consisting of a number of achaenia. Seed pendulous. Ex- 

 amph : — Anemone. 



Tribe 3. Ranuncidece. Calj'x imbricated. Fruit consisting of 

 a number of achsenia. Seed erect. Example: — Ranunculus. 



Tribe 4. Helleborecs. Calyx imbricated. Fruit consisting of 

 one or more whorls of many-seeded follicles. Examples: — 

 Helleborus, Aconitum. 



Tribe 5. Actceece of Lindley. Cal}rs coloured, imbricated. 

 Fruit succulent, indehiscent, one or many-seeded. Examples: 

 — Actsea, Podophyllum. 



Distribution and Numbers. — The plants of this order occur 

 chiefly in cold damp climates, and are almost unknown in 

 the tropics, except on mountains. The order includes about 

 1000 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order generally 

 aboirnd 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 the plants, or by infusing them in 

 boiling or even sometimes in cold water ; it varies also in dif- 

 ferent parts of the same plant, and even in the same parts at 

 different seasons. Some plants contain in addition a narcotic 

 principle. When these principles are in excess they are virulent 

 poisons. Grenerally the plants of this order are to be regarded 

 with suspicion, although some are simply bitter and tonic ; the 

 following are the more important plants, and the uses to which 

 they are applied : — 



Aconitum. — Some species of this genus are very virulent poisons. The 

 dried root of Aconitinn fi^rox has been usually considered as the sole source 

 of the celebrated Indian drug and poison, " Bikh or Bish," but as stated by 

 Dr. Hooker, this is also obtained indifferently from A, Xapellus, A. luridum, 



