POLYCARPICJ). 



381 



FIG. 376. Aquttegia vulgaris. 



A. Follicles (Figs. 375,379), with many ovules, situated in 

 two rows along the ventral suture. Actaa has berries, Nigella has 

 capsules of several loculi. 



I. P^EONIEJ;, PEONY GROUP. This has regular, acyclic flowers 

 with a normal, most frequently 5-leaved, imbricate calyx ; large, 

 coloured petals, and 

 introrse anthers. 

 Slightly perigynous. 

 Surrounding the 

 base of the carpels 

 a ring-like swelling 

 of the receptacle 

 (" disc ") is present, 

 which is largest in 

 P. maul an. The 

 follicles are more 

 or less fleshy or 

 leathery. Mostly 

 herbs, with pinnati- 

 sect or decompound 

 leaves and large, 

 solitary flowers; a gradual transition may be traced from the 

 foliage-leaves to the petals. P&onia; Hydrastis. 

 ' 2. HELLKBOREJ;, HELLEBORE GROUP. This has regular flowers with 

 most frequently a coloured 

 calyx. The petals (honey- 

 leaves) are modified into 

 nectaries; they may be horn- 

 like, provided with a spur, or 

 of a similarly unusual form, 

 or they may be entirely ab- 

 sent. Anthers often extrorse. 

 Trollius (Giobe-flower 1 ). 

 The flower is acyclic: many 



1 According to Prantl, some 

 species of Trollius (T. europccus, 

 and asiatiacus) have a perianth, 

 differentiated into calyx and cor- 

 olia, which does not pass over into 

 the honey-leaves. The outer leaves 

 of the perianth have frequently an 

 incised apex, the intermediate ones FIG. 377 CaltJia palustris (nal. size). 



