RANUNCULACE^E. 



Subclass II. CALYCIFLO'RJE (f. 2. 2.). 



Petals many, distinct (a), or united together at the base, and are 

 as well as the stamens, inserted in the calyx (6.). 



Subclass III. COROLLIFLO'RJE. (f. 2. 3 and 4.). 

 Petals united together in one (a.), inserted in the receptacle (b.), 

 and bearing the stamens (c.). 



2. Perigone Simple (f. 2. 5. a.). 

 Subclass IV. MONOCHLAMY'DEJE (f. 2. 5.). 

 Corolla wanting, or united with the calyx (a.) and bearing the 

 stamens (6.). 



FIG. 



2 



SUBCLASS I. THALAMIFLO'R^E (from thalamus, a bride 

 chamber, and flos, a flower, in allusion to the parts of the flower 

 being inserted in the receptacle.) D. C. prod. 1. p. 1. Calyx of 

 many sepals. Petals many, distinct, and are as well as the stamens 

 inserted into the receptacle (f. 2. I.e.). The insertion of the 

 petals and stamens into the receptacle is the great character 

 of this subclass, which therefore contains all the Polyandrous 

 plants of Linnaeus. 



SECT. I. Ovaries numerous, aggregate (f. 3. 6. f. 7. b. & f. C. 

 c.), each bearing a style rarely solitary from abortion or coali- 

 tion (f. 13. b.). Stamens indefinite, or if definite then opposite 

 the petals. 



ORDER!. RANUNCULA'CE^E. (plants agreeing with Ra- 

 nunculus in many important characters.) Juss. 231. D. C. 

 syst. 1. p. 127. prod. 1. p. 2. 



Calyx of many definite sepals (f. 4. a. f. C. b. f. 14. a.), 

 or many parted with an equal number of petals (f. 14. c.), 

 or twice or thrice that number, sometimes wanting (f. 7. a. 

 f. 4. a. f. 3. a.). Stamens indefinite, free (f. 2. 1. a. f. 4. &.). 

 Anthers adnate, usually turned outwards (f. 4. b.). Pistils 

 inserted in the torus (f. 10. rf.). Carpels many (f. 3. b. 

 f. 6. c.), 1-celled (f. 6. d. f. 9. g.), pseudospermous (f. C. c. 

 f. 3. 6.), baccate (f. 7. b. f. 13. b.), capsular (f. 11. c. f. 12. 

 c.), or follicular (f. 14. e./.), 1 (f. 6. e. f. 9. g.~), or many- 

 seeded (f. 13. c. f. 14./.). Seeds attached by their inner side, 

 solitary, erect (f. 9. g.f.) or pendulous (f. 6 e.), or if many, 

 usually disposed in one row along the margin of the carpel 

 (f. 14. /.). Embryo minute, placed in the base of a corneous 

 albumen (f. 9. /.). Herbs, undershrubs, or sarmentose shrubs. 

 Roots fascicled, grumose or fibrous. Leaves, simple or variously 



cut, with stalks more or less dilated at their base, alternate ; but 

 opposite in Clematideae. 



The greater part of the plants of this order are objects of in- 

 terest with gardeners, containing as it does many of the most 

 elegant and shewy of the tribes of plants. It is remarkable, how- 

 ever, that the acrid and venomous properties of these plants are 

 nearly as powerful as their beauty is great. M. De Candolle re- 

 marks, that its nature is extremely singular ; it is so volatile, that 

 in most cases, simple drying in the air, or infusion in water, is 

 sufficient to destroy it ; it is neither acid nor alkaline ; but its 

 activity is increased by acids, honey, sugar, wine, or alcohol, 

 and it is in reality destructible only in water. The recent herb 

 applied externally to the skin causes blisters. The roots are 

 usually drastic or emetic. The seeds are generally acrid and aro- 

 matic, and retain their power of vegetation a considerable time, 

 therefore they are easily imported in a vegetative state from any 

 part of the world. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



True RANUNCULA'CE^E. Anthers bursting outwards (pi. 



1. f. 5.). 



TRIBE I. 



CLEMATIDEJE. Calyx in the bud valcate (f. 2. 1. c.), or in- 

 duplicate (f. 4. c. d.). Petals wanting (f. 2. 1. b. f. 4. a.), or 

 Jlat. Carpels indehiscent (f. 3. 6.), l-seeded (f. 3. d.), ending 

 in a tail, which is generally feathery (f. 3. e. c.). Seed pendu- 

 lous (f. 3. d.). Leaves opposite (f. 3. 4 and 5.). Climbing 

 shrubs, rarely herbs. 



1 CLE'MATIS. Petals wanting (f. 3. and 4. a.). Carpels ses- 

 sile (f. 3. 6.). 



2 ATRAOE'NE. Petals numerous, shorter than the calyx. 

 Carpels sessile. 



3 NARAVE'LIA. Petals 6 to 12, longer than the calyx (f. 5. a.). 

 Carpels seated on a thick hollow stipe (f. 5. &.). 



TRIBE II. 



ANEM6NEJE. Calyx and Corolla imbricate in the bud (f. 14. 

 a.). Petals wanting (f. 6. b. f. 7. a.), or Jlat. Carpels 

 l-seeded (f. 6. d.~), indehiscent (f. 6. c.), usually ending in a tail 

 (f, G.f.) or point (f. 6. c.). Seed pendulous (f. 6. e.). Leaves 

 radical (f. 6.),' or alternate (f. 7.). Herbs, rarely shrubs. 



4 THALICTRUM. Involucre wanting. Calyx of 4 or 5 petal- 

 like sepals. Petals wanting. Carpels dry, never ending in a 

 tail, stipitate, or sessile, someiimes furrowed longitudinally. 



5 TETRA'CTIS. Involucre wanting. Calyx of 4 petal-like se- 

 pals. Petals wanting. Stamens 4. Carpels 4, acute. 



6 ANEMONE. Involucre of 3 cut leaflets, distant from the 

 flower (f. 6. a.). Calyx of 5 to 15 petal-like sepals (f. 6. b.). 

 Petals wanting. 



7 HEPA'TICA. Involucre of 3 entire leaflets, just under the 

 flower. Calyx of from 6 to 9 petal-like sepals. Petals wanting. 



8 HYDUA'STIS. Involucre wanting. Calyx of 3 sepals (f. 7. 

 a.). Petals wanting. Carpels baccate (f. 7. b ). 



9 KNOWLTONIA Involucre none. Calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 

 5 to 15. Carpels baccate. 



