636 



BOTANY 



PART II 



achenes or nutlets (Fig. 640). The aquatic species of Ranunculus, belonging to 

 the section Batrachium, are often heterophyllous (Fig. 35), the floating leaves 

 serving to support the flowers above the surface of the water. 



Species of Anemone are also widely distributed in Europe. A. nemorosa occurs 

 commonly in woods and is one of our early spring flowers. It has a horizontal, 



subterranean rhizome, which 

 terminates in a flower, the 

 further growth of the plant 

 being carried on by a lateral 

 shoot. Perianth simple, 

 petaloid. All species of 

 Anemone have, at a greater 

 or less distance from the 

 perianth, a whorl of, usually, 

 three leaves forming an in- 

 volucre (Fig. 641). In A. 

 hepatica this stands just 

 below the perianth and thus 

 resembles a calyx. All the 

 species are to some extent 

 poisonous, especially A. 

 Pulsatilla (Fig. 641). The 

 plants of the genus Clematis 

 are mostly woody and differ 

 from other Ranunculaceae 

 in having opposite leaves. 

 Many species are cultivated. 

 C. vitalba is one of our few 

 native lianes. The achenes 

 of the species of Clematis 

 and of many kinds of 

 Anemone are provided with 

 hairy or feathery append- 

 ages, which facilitate their 

 distribution by the wind. 

 Caltha palustris, the Marsh 

 Marigold (Fig. 642), is one 

 of the most conspicuous 

 spring flowers in damp 

 meadows. Perianth simple, 

 bright yellow. Leaves cor- 

 date or reniform, short- 

 stalked, with erect sheath- 

 ing base. Fruit, as in the species of Helleborus that flower in the winter, composed 

 of follicles. The Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) (Figs. 643, 644) is a stately 

 perennial herb with underground tubers and occurs most commonly in alpine 

 meadows. The leaves are palmately divided, the segments being in turn pinnately 

 lobed. Inflorescence a dense raceme, reinforced by lateral inflorescences standing 

 in the axils of the upper leaves. Flowers zygomorphic. One of the five dark- 

 blue sepals is helmet-shaped, and protects two long-stalked, tubular, two-lipped 

 nectaries, which correspond to petals. The remaining petals are wanting or are 



FIG. 642. Caltha palustris ( uat. size). Poisoxocs. 



