PLOT A 57 



Anemone Tribe, including the early-flowering Hepatica. 

 Two beds under the Buckthorn in Plot B are devoted to 

 Anemone appennina and to A. nemorosa robinsoniana. 



Tribe iii. The Ranunculeae^ or Crowfoots proper, in- 

 clude the Buttercup, R. acris, and Celandine, R. ficaria. The 

 latter is noteworthy because it resembles Mono-cotyledonous 

 rather than Di-cotyledonous plants in having closed bundles 

 without a cambium, and in having only one cotyledon. The 

 Double Ranunculus, so much cultivated in gardens, are 

 varieties of R. asiaticus. R. nyssanus from Nyassa is a novelty. 



Tribe iv. The Hellebores include many garden favourites, 

 some of which are as poisonous as they are popular. Under 

 the name of roots of Christmas Roses, Helleborus niger, from 

 S.E. Europe, a drastic purgative and diuretic medicine, 

 used to be largely imported from Hamburg. It is, however, 

 more likely that the tubers are those of H. orientate or 

 H. officinaliS) which Sibthorp recognised as the Black 

 Hellebore of the Greeks. Before the Christian era Melampus 

 used it in the treatment of madness. Near Oxford, cattle 

 have died from eating H. viridis (M.T.M.). Columbines, 

 Aquilegia^ Larkspurs, Delphinium, and Monkshoods, Aconitum, 

 are much cultivated for their decorative value ; but D. Staphi- 

 sagria and A. Napellus are best placed beyond the reach of 

 the ignorant on account of the virulent alkaloids they contain. 

 Aconite tuber is distinguished from Horse-radish root by being 

 shorter, turnip-like, tapering, dark coloured, and with many 

 side rootlets. 



The fifth tribe comprise the Paeonies. P. mlokosewitschi, 

 obovata, wittmanniana, and Sunbeam x are among the more 

 recent additions to the Garden. 



Ord. 2. DILLENIACEAE, a tropical order named after Dillenius, our 

 Professor. 



Ord. 3. CALYCANTHACEAE. Carolina allspice, Calycanthus 

 floriduS) forms a bush on the western side of the plot. The 

 bark is used in the United States as a substitute for cinnamon. 



