Division I. DICHLAMYDEiE. 



Both floral envelopes present, calyx and corolla. 



Class I. Hypogynous Dichlamydeous Plants. — Thalamiflo- 

 R/E. — Petals and stamens inserted on the receptacle, or on a 

 free disc, or united with the base of the ovary. Ovary free. 



RANUNCULACE^, Juss. The Crowfoot Family. 



Herbaceous, rarely half- 

 shrubby or ligneous plants, 

 with more or less acridity. 

 Leaves alternate, rarely op- 

 posite or ternate, petiolate, 

 entire or more or less di- 

 vided, sheathed at the base. 

 Flowers solitary, terminal 

 or lateral, or in irregular 

 cymes, clusters, or panicles, 

 perfect (having stamens and 

 pistils), regular or irregular, 

 with an imbricated, rarely 

 valvular prefloration (aesti- 

 vation). Sepals .5, rarely 

 3-15, free, caducous, rarely 

 persistent; petals 5-15, ca- 

 ducous, regular or irregular, 

 rarely wanting. Stamens in- 

 definite, rarely 5-10. An- 

 thers extrorse, rarely in- 

 trorse. Ovary free ; carpels 

 indefinite, or 2-10, rarely 

 reduced to a single carpel; 

 carpels free or connected at 

 the base, with one or several 

 ovules. Ovules erect or as- 



Fig. I. Eanunculus bulbosus. 



cending, rarely suspended. Styles short, persistent. Fruit either 



Fig. I.— 1. Plant, reduced. 2. Interual view of the corolla. 3. A detached petal, 

 with the scale. 4. External view of the flower, calyx and corolla. 5. A longitu- 

 dinal section, exhibiting the receptacle and the carpels, all magnified. 6. A stamen, 

 magnified. 7. A carpel, magnified. 



1 b 



