182 DICOTYLEDONS LEGUMINOS.E DIAGRAM 12. 



FAMILY RANUNCULACE^J. 



The family Ranunculacece includes plants which hare all 

 brilliant corollas composed of several parts, but which are very 

 different in external appearance. The hellebore, the Christmas- 

 rose, the monkshood, the larkspur, the clematis, which grows in 

 hedges, and the buttercup or ranunculus are only alike in having 

 their fruits formed by a cluster of several small dry seeds. More- 

 over, nearly all the ranunculacese are poisonous plants, which 

 cattle often avoid, and which make them ill if they eat them. 

 But when dried they seem to lose part of their various properties ; 

 and it is for this reason that the buttercup does not injure the 

 quality of hay. The calyx of the buttercup is yellow ; its corolla 

 has five petals, and a great number of stamens like the poppy ; 

 but instead of having only one pistil, it has several, each of which 

 becomes a dry seed when ripe. 



FAMILY LEGUMINOS^3. 

 [ DIAGRAMS 10 AND 12. ] 



The family Leguminosce is one of the most important in the 

 whole vegetable kingdom. It includes a great number of plants, 

 from herbs to the largest trees. Its name is derived from its 

 fruit, which is called a legume in botany. This fruit is a capsule 

 with two valves, and is called a pod; and the seeds are inserted 

 upon the side of one of the lids. All the leguminosse bear a similar 



fruit. This large family includes 

 the furze and broom, which are 

 not very useful ; and other plants 

 Pea. which are used for the food of 



man such as peas, and beans of all kinds, lupins and lentils. 



