CLASS DICOTYLEDONOUS. 



pistils ; 5 or 4, or some multiple of 5 or 4, being the 

 predominating number of the parts of fructification. 



SUB-CLASS I. 

 THALAMIFLOK^E. ORD. I XXII. 



Flowers furnished with calyx and corolla ; petals dis- 

 tinct, inserted into the receptacle or thalamus ; stamens 

 springing from below the base of the ovary. 



NATURAL ORDER I. 

 RANUNCULACE^E. THE CROWFOOT TRIBE. 



Sepals generally 5 ; petals 5 or more, frequently irregu- 

 lar in form \ stamens indefinite in number, inserted on 

 the receptacle ; ovaries generally numerous ; fruit con- 

 sisting of several one or many-seeded carpels ; in Actcea, 

 a berry. An extensive tribe of plantSj inhabiting for the 

 most part the temperate regions of the globe. All the 

 British species are herbaceous, leaves generally much 

 divided, and flowers showy ; sepals and petals often 

 running into one another, sometimes extended into 

 spurs. Most of them possess acrid and poisonous pro- 

 perties if taken into the stomach, and not a few pro- 

 duce wounds if applied to the skin. Some species were 

 formerly used in medicine, and the extract of Monks- 

 hood is still employed to relieve pain in affections of 

 the nerves. The Hellebore was held in high repute 

 among the ancients, as a specific for madness ; the gar- 

 den-flower known by the familiar name of Christmas 

 Rose belongs to this family. Ranunculus sceleratus is 

 one of the most generally diffused plants, being as com- 

 mon in America, and on the banks of the Ganges, as it 

 is in our own marshes. 



