8ECT, II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



579 



alpine meadows. The leaves are palmately divided, the segments being iu turn 

 pinnately lobed and widened towards tlie tip. Inflorescence a dense raceme, re- • 

 inforced by lateral inflorescences standing iu the axils of the upper leaves. Flowers 

 zygoraorphic. 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 reduced to inconspicuous, narrow structures. 

 Aconitum Lycoctcmum {¥ig. 565) has smaller, yellow flowersof similar construction. 

 A. Stoerkianium and A. varief/atum resemble A.^najjellus, but are more brightly 

 coloured. All the species are poisonous. Aquilegia, Delphinium, and Paeonia are 



Fig. ot)5. — Aconitum Lrjcoctonv.m (A nat. size). Poisosovs. 



favourite ornamental plants with showy flowers. In Actuca and Hydrastis the 

 fruit is a berry. 



Official. — Aconiti iiauix is obtained from Aconitum napellus. Staphis- 

 AGKIAE SEMINA from Delijliiiiium stcqjhisagria. Cimicifugae rhizoma from 

 Cimicifaga raeemosa. Hydrastis khizoma from the North American Hydrastis 

 Canadensis (Fig. 5t)6), a perennial herb which sends its subaerial shoots up from 

 the subterranean rhizome ; the base of the shoot has keeled scale-leaves in two 

 ranks. The flowers are solitary and terminate the shoots, each of which bears 

 two foliage leaves. The simple, white perianth falls when the flower opens. The 

 androecium and the apocarpous gynaceum consist of numerous members. The 

 fruit consists of numerous, small berries, each of which includes 1 - 2 seeds. 

 The alkaloid hydiiastikk is obtained from the rhizome. 



Family 3. Magnoliaceae (■*";.— Woody plants from tropical and temperate 

 America and Asia. Tiie leaves are alternate and usually provided with stipules, 



