RANUNCULUS. 47 



The Leaves arc many. Most of them are radical, arising 

 with the stem from the root (radix); others are cauline, 

 groAving from the stem (caulis) above the base. They are 

 also alternate in arrangement — one above another, spirally (p. 

 193). The lower leaves are borne on long, ^\em\QY petioles ; 

 the upper are sessile, having no petiole. The blades are 

 ternately divided, i. e., into three divisions, or pinnately 

 into five, and the terminal division is stalked ; then all tne 

 divisions are cut into lobes. 



The Tei?is, although present, are not always discernible. 

 In Spring Beauty they are concealed. In Crowfoot they are 

 not conspicuous, yet evidently are not parallel, as in Ery- 

 thronium. Under a magnifier they seem to form a net- 

 work ; that is, they are reticulated {rcticula, a net). 



The ^i07t^ers are borne on peduncles, which terminate 

 the stem and branches — one on each peduncle. They are 

 perfect and complete, having all the proper and essential 

 floral organs.* The calyx consists of five lanceolate, green- 

 ish, spreading sepals, much smaller than the petals. The 

 corolla consists of five yellow, shining, spreading petals. In 

 outline the petals are inversely lanceolate or ovate (oZ'-lance- 

 olate or oJ-ovate), being broadest above the middle. At the 

 base there is a honey-pore, which w^e may call a nectary, 

 covered by a little scale (Fig. IX, 2). The stamens are many 

 in number — said to be indefinite (denoted thus, oo), although, 

 if carefully counted, they will generally be found some multi- 

 ple of 5; as 25, 30, etc. The ievm i^olyandrous {polys.manj, 

 andres, stamens) is of a similar meaning. The filament, 

 anther, and pollen we leave to be identified by the studeu t. 



* A flower is hotamcdWY perfect when it has both stamens and pistils. The sym- 

 bol is 5 . It is complete when it has stamcMis. pistils, calyx and corolla— all tht» 

 proper organs. A flowor is apefalous when Ihe calyx is present wifliout the corolla ; 

 it is Ktayninate {6) when having stamens without pistils, f\xid jnstiUate («) pistils 

 without stamens. 



