6 RANUNCULACEiE. [RantmculacecB . 



The majority of genera of this rather large Order consist of herbs fi'om the temperate or 

 cooler regions of the globe, with radical or alternate leaves. Of this group one species, 

 Ranunculus scelercdus, Linn., is said (Bot. Her. 361) to have been found in Hongkong "in 

 waste places near houses." I have seen no specimens, and as the plant in other countries 

 is ouly to be seen in ditches and wet places, 1 fear there may have been some mistake, and 

 therefore omit it. The following Hongkong species belong to a somewhat anomalous group 

 with opposite leaves. 



1. CLEMATIS, Linn. 



Sepals 4 or 5, valvate in the bud, petaloid and deciduous. Petals none, or 

 small and naiTOw and passing gradually into the stamens. Carpels numerous, 

 with a single pendulous ovule in each. Achenes indehiscent. — Climbers or 

 rarely large herbs with opposite leaves. 



A considerable genus, widely distributed over the globe, and almost the only one of the 

 Order which penetrates into the tropics. 



Leaves pinnate with 5 segments. Anthers longer than the filaments . 1. C. uncinata. 

 Leaves about twice ternate. Anthers much shorter than the filaments . 2. C. jparviloba. 

 Leaves once ternate. 



Leaf-segments rounded or cordate at the base. Anthers longer than 



the filaments 3. C. Meyeniana. 



Leaf-segments narrowed at the base. Anthers much shorter than the 



filaments " . 4. C. crassifolia. 



I.e. uncinata, CJiamp. in Kew Joimi. Bot. iii. 255. A glabrous and some- 

 what glaucous climber. Leaves pinnate, the segments usually 5, stalked, ovate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, with a short hooked point 1|~2 in. long, 3 -nerved at 

 the base. Panicles loose, terminal, with numerous white flowers. Sepals when 

 fully out near ^ in. long, very acute, glabrous with the exception of a narrow 

 tomentose edge, turning black in drying. Anthers linear, much longer than 

 their very short filaments. Achenes terminating Avhen ripe in long feathery awns. 



In a ravine behind Mount Parker, near Saywan, Champion. Not in any other collection. 



3. C. parviloba, Gardn. and Champ. hiKew Journ. Bot. i. 241. A climber, 

 loosely clothed with short silky hairs. Leaves mostly twice ternate, the seg- 

 ments stalked, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, quite entire, \\ to 2 in. long. 

 Panicles few-flowered and leafy. Sepals white ?, about 9 or 10 lines long and 3 

 lines broad, 7 -nerved and hairy outside, glabi'ous within. Anthers much 

 shorter than their rather slender filaments. Achenes numerous, terminating 

 in long featheiy awns. 



Rare in the Happy Valley and towards West Point, Cham'pion ; also Wright and Wilford. 

 Not as yet found out of the island. 



3. C. Meyeniana, 7?V///?. Bl. Meye^i. 297. A somewhat glaucous climber, 

 either quite glabrous or only slightly pubescent. Leaves ternate, the segments 

 stalked, cordate, ovate, or lanceolate, quite entire and rather thick, 2 to 3 in. 

 long. Panicles loose and many-flowered. Plowers white, slightly scented, 5 or 6 

 lines long, and scarcely pointed. Anthers mostly longer than the filaments. 

 Achenes several, terminating in long feathery awns. — C. Jiedysarifolia, Bot. 

 Keg. t. 5 99, not DC* C. oreopJiila, Hance in Walp. Ann. ii. 3. 



* The true C. hedysarifolia, DC, a south Indian plant, has the leaves often pinnately 

 divided, the segments frequently coarsely toothed, and the anthers almost as short as in C. 

 Gouriana, to which it comes much uearer than to the C. Meyeniana. 



