26 RANUNCULACE.E. 



3 feet high ; the leaves are very deep green, divided two or 

 three times, and the leaflets are wedge-shaped. The panicles 

 of flower are compact and numerous, and the flowers are bright 

 orange-yellow. One of the most showy species, suitable for 

 mixed borders and planting among shrubs, and for naturalising 

 by the banks of lakes and streams, luxuriating most in moist 

 situations. Flowers in May and onwards till August. Native 

 of Europe and Russian Asia, and also of Britain, but rather 

 thinly distributed. 



T. minus {Lesser Meadow-Riie). — As regards foliage, this is 

 the most elegant of Meadow-Rues, and might happily be named 

 Maiden-hair Meadow- Rue. The leaves are divided in the same 

 manner, and have a striking resemblance to the fronds of Adi- 

 antum cuneatiim ; and the plant may, with equally beautiful 

 efl"ect, be used for similar purposes in the open air to those for 

 which the Adiantum is employed indoors — that of furnishing 

 grace in association with colour, and producing contrasts of 

 form and colour in foliage and habit. It grows about a foot 

 high, producing dense masses of the leaves already alluded to, 

 in rounded graceful tufts. The panicles of flowers are loose, 

 and rise considerably above the mass of the leaves, and are 

 greenish white, tinged with pink ; but they should not be al- 

 lowed to develop themselves when the object in view is the 

 foliage effect. The flowering-stems in that case must be pinched 

 out as soon as they appear, and attention to this will afterwards 

 be necessary, as the plant will make subsequent efforts to flower. 

 Flowers in June and July. Native of Europe and Russian Asia, 

 and, though not common, is also indigenous to Britain. 



Trollius (Globe-Flower). — A small genus of plants, but all hav- 

 ing some considerable pretensions to beauty and usefulness as 

 hardy border-plants. They are dwarf compact plants, and look 

 very trim and pleasing in the mixed border. In their native 

 habitats they affect moist woods and upland pastures, and in 

 cultivation luxuriate most freely in good rich loamy soil in mo- 

 derately moist somewhat shady places. They would doubtless 

 prove excellent subjects for naturaHsing in open woods, where 

 no more rampant plants than themselves existed in the natural 

 vegetation. They are all slightly odorous, especially in the pro- 

 cess of drying, and on this account it is said the people of Swe- 

 den gather quantities of the flowers of T. eiiropczus and strew 

 the floors and doors of their houses with them in holiday times. 

 They are propagated by division in autumn, winter, and spring. 



T. americanus {Amei-ican G lobe-Flower). — This is one of the 

 dwarfest species, growing about 9 inches or i foot high, with 

 pretty palmately-divided leaves and yellow flowers, the sepals 



