RANUNCULACEyE 265 



under partial shade, but the inflorescence has but a ghost 

 of the brilliance one knows high on the mountains. In 

 England it proves easy, and 1 have seen it finely flowered 

 in the neighbourhood of London. It requires a well 

 drained sunny slope, and soil composed of leaf mould, 

 sand, loam and coarse broken stone-chips. Abundant 

 water is to be given during the growing season and then 

 gradually withheld. A kind admirably suited by the 

 well-irrigated detritus of an artificial "moraine". Easily 

 raised from seed. 



7^. aconitifolius (PI. V). A strong, tall-growing herb, 

 reaching at times to over three feet, and bearing a large 

 panicle of white blooms. June-August: in cool pastures, 

 or moist and partly shaded places over all Swiss moun- 

 tains; 5oo-2000 m. 



7^. platanifolius is nearly related to aconitifolius, but 

 differs in slenderer and almost smooth flower-scapes, in 

 larger leaves, cut less deeply, but into narrower and more 

 grass-like segments. Grows under the same conditions 

 as its congener, but chooses drier situations and does not 

 descend so low. Both are of easy culture and are most 

 ornamental in rockeries, parks and wild gardens. A cool 

 and lightly shaded position in the bog-garden is needed. 



7^. Thora. A curious plant with a fusiform root-stock, 

 not unlike a miniature tuber of dahlia; stem slim, solid 

 and smooth, bearing midway one or more sessile leaves, 

 of which the lower is large, orbicular, coriaceous, strong- 

 ly veined, serrate and broader than long; flower small, 

 bright yellow, usually solitary. June-July. Mountainous 

 regions of the limestone Alps and Jura; 1000-2000 m. 

 Ancient warriors extracted ftom the juice with which 

 the stem is charged a violent poison; with this they im- 

 pregnated the points of their arrows and made them most 

 deadly weapons. 



