CROWFOOT TRIBE. 17 



8. CALTHA (Marsh Marigold). 



1. C. palustris ( Common Marsh. Marigold). A showy 

 plant, resembling a gigantic Buttercup, abundant in 

 marshes, and by the sides of streams. Leaves kidney- 

 shaped, large and glossy. A double variety is common 

 in gardens. 



9. HELL^BORUS (Hellebore). 



1. H. viridis (Green Hellebore). Leaves digitate ; 

 sepals spreading. A coarse herbaceous plant, remark- 

 able for the light green hue of its flowers. The petals, 

 or as -some botanists call them, the nectaries, of this 

 plant, as well as of the following, are tubular, shorter 

 than the calyx, and contain honey, which is said, and 

 perhaps with reason, to be poisonous. Fl. March, April. 

 Perennial. 



2. H. foetidus (Stinking Hellebore). Leaves pedate ; 

 sepals converging. Best distinguished from the pre- 

 ceding' by its evergreen leaves which are not divided to 

 a common centre, and by the purple hue of its sepals. 

 Both species are considered doubtful natives, being 

 generally found in the vicinity of houses. Fl. March, 

 April. Perennial. 



* These two species are remarkable for their green 

 leaf-like petals, and for the large tubular nectaries, in 

 which small flies may sometimes be found caught, as 

 in a trap. H. niger is a handsome species, with large 

 white flowers, tinged with rose-colour, which are best 

 known by the name of Christmas Rose. This is by 

 some supposed to be the Hellebore of the ancients, so 

 famous as a specific for madness ; but most probably it 

 was that now called H. officindlis. Closely allied with 

 this genus is the common garden flower Erdnthis 

 hyemdlis (Winter Aconite), a pretty little plant, with 

 yellow flowers and glossy leaves, appearing very early 

 in spring. 



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