Ranunculaceae 



THE typical forms of this numerous order are the famil- 

 iar golden buttercups. Many of the included species 

 are true mountaineers; most are perennial, some climbing 

 or shrubby. The leaves are opposite, except among the 

 Clematideae (alternate) ; the flowers sometimes regular, 

 as in Anemones, sometimes irregular, as in Aconites; a 

 distinct corolla and calyx are often wanting, but there is 

 often a flanking involucre or whorl of bracts half-way up 

 the stem. The stamens are numerous; the ovaries of vary ing 

 number; the fruit one-celled, one-seeded (an achene), 

 except in Actaea, where it takes the form of a berry. 



Atragenc alpina 



"Eng.: Alpine clematis ; Fr. : Clematite des Alpes; Ger. : Alpenrebe. 



A climbing shrub not unlike a clematis, with leaves 

 composed of 7-8 irregularly divided leaflets. The flowers 

 are large, solitary, with 4 lilac-violet, petal-like sepals, 

 the true petals being very minute and forming a compact 

 corona at the base of the flower, where they serve as nec- 

 taries for fertilising insects; the seeds are furnished with 

 long, whitish, feathered awns. Varieties with pure white, 

 red and rose flowers are found. May-June: bushy parts 

 of the alpine region, 400-1000 m. Rare in Switzerland: 

 Grisons, Fribourg, Saleve (beyond the frontier). 



A fine climber, growing to the height of 10 ft., or to 

 be employed with striking effect as drapery on some bold 



