PLANT FAMILIES: RANUNCULACE&. 



269 



five to nine usually. The stamens are more numerous, as is the 



general rule in the members of 

 the family, but the number of 

 the pistils is small. Each one is 

 and forms a little pod 

 when the seed is ripe. The marsh- 

 marigold, as its 

 name implies, oc- 

 curs in marshy or 

 wet places and 

 along the muddy 

 banks of streams. 

 It is one of the 

 common flowers in April and 

 May. 



520. Many of the crowfoots 

 or buttercups (ranunculus) with 

 bright yellow flowers grow in 

 similar situations. The "wood 

 anemone" (anemone), small 

 plants with white flowers, and the rue- 

 anemone (anemonella), which resembles 

 it, both flower in woods in early spring. The common virgin's 

 bower (Clematis virginiana) occurs along streams or on hill- 

 sides, climbing over shrubs or fences. 

 The vine is somewhat woody. The 

 leaves are opposite, petioled, and are 

 composed of three leaflets, which are 

 ovate, three-lobed, and usually 

 strongly toothed, and somewhat 

 heart-shaped at the base. The 

 flower clusters are borne in the axils 

 of the leaves, and therefore may also 

 be opposite. The clusters are much 

 branched, forming a convex mass of 

 beautiful whitish flowers. The sepals are colored and the petals 



Fig. 35'- 



Caltha palustris, marsh-mari 

 gold. 



Fig. 352- 



Diagram of marsh marigold 

 flower. 



Fig. 353- 

 Diagram of aquilegia flower. (Vines.) 



