12 RANUNCVLACEJE. [AcoxnTM. 



many-ovuled. Follicles 3-5. Seeds many, testa spongy mgose. Disruir.. 



Mountains of the N. hemisphere. ETYM. classical. 



A. NAPF.L'LUS, L. ; leaf-lobes pinnatifid, raceme simple dense-flowered. 



Shady places near streams, native (?) in Wales, Hereford and Somerset, 

 naturalized elsewhere ; a denizen? Watson; fl. July-Sept. Rootstock fusi- 

 form, black. Stem 1-2 ft., erect, slightly pubescent. Leaven palmately 

 5-7-partite ; petiole dilated at the base; upper often sessile. /Y/tY>-.v 

 bracteate and bracteolate, 1-1A in. diam. dark blue, horizontal ; pedicels 

 erect, pubescent. Upper sepal at first concealing the others, then thrown 

 back. Spurs of upper petals conical, deflexed. Filaments dilated below. 

 Anthers greenish-black. Follicles 3-5, sub-cylindric, beaked. DISTRIB. 

 Europe, Siberia, W. Asia to the Himalaya. A deadly acrid poison. 



1O. ACTffi'A, L. BANE- BEERY, HERB CHRISTOPHER. 

 Erect perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, 3-nately compound ; stipules 

 adiiate. Flowers small, in short crowded racemes. Sepals 3-5, rather 

 unequal, petaloid. Petals 4-10, small, spathulate, or 0. Carpel 1, inany- 

 ovuled ; stigma sessile, dilated. Berry many-seeded. Seeds depressed, 

 testa cmstaceous smooth. DISTRIB. Colder regions of the N. hemi- 

 sphere ; species 1 or 3. ETYM. &KT-/I, the Elder, from a fancied resemblance. 



1. A. spica ta, L. ; raceme simple, fruiting pedicels slender. 

 Copses on limestone, Yorkshire, Lake District, ascending to 1,000 ft. ; native? 

 Watson; fl. May. Rootstock stout, black. Stem l-*2 ft., perennial, simple or 

 sparingly branched. Radical leaves on long petioles, 2 3-teniately-pinnate ; 

 leaflets 1-3 in., ovate, acuminate, lobed and serrate, dark green, glabrous ; 

 stipules adnate, auricles short rounded. Racemes 1-2 in. , solitary or few, 

 oblong ; peduncle pubescent. Flowers $ in. diam., white ; pedicels pubes- 

 cent, spreading in fruit. Sepals obtuse, caducous. J'etals minute or 0. /'; fo- 

 ments dilated above. Berry ^ in. long, ovoid, nearly black. DISTKIB. Temp, 

 and Arctic Europe, Asia, and N. America (a red-berried var. ). Nauseous, 

 poisonous. 



ORDER II. BERBERID E^E. 



Herbs or shrubs, erect or climbing ; buds scaly. Leaves alternate, simple 

 or compound, usually exstipulate. Inflorescence various ; flowers often 

 globose. Sepals petaloid. Petals hypogynous, numerous, distinct, mul- 

 tiples of 2, 3 or 4, never of 5, imbricate or the outer valvate. Stamens one 

 opposite each petal ; anthers opening by 2 ascending lids or valves. Carpel 

 1, 1 -celled ; stigma usually peltate ; ovules 2 or more, basal or on the 

 ventral suture, anatropous, raphe ventral. Fruit a berry or capsule. 

 Seeds albuminous ; embryo various. DISTRIB. Most cool regions, except 

 Australia and S. Africa; genera 20, species 100. AFFINITIES. See 

 Mamtnculacece ; allied to Menispermaccce ; analogy in anther with Laurinece 

 and in the 3-nary floral whorls with Monocotyledons. PROPERTIES. 

 Astringent, and yield a yellow dye. Berries of Berberis acid and eatable. 



1. BER BERIS, L. BARBERRY. 



Spiny shrubs, wood yellow. Leaves spinous-toothed, jointed on the 

 very short petiole, often reduced to 3-7 -fid spines. Flowers racemed, 



