2 4 8 



BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS 



CHAP. 



they may distribute the pollen from the stamens to the pistil 

 of the same flower and produce self-pollination. 



EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE TYPE. 



Monkshood (Aconitum napellus}. Flowers \\\ racemes, zygomorphic ; 

 Calyx blue, sepals 5, the posterior one hood-like; Petals 8, 2 are 

 modified to form long-clawed nectaries ; the other 6 may be absent or 



very minute ; Carpels 3 ; 

 ovules numerous. Protan- 

 drous ; Fruits of many- 

 seeded follicles ; Pollina- 

 ted by humble-bees. 



Hellebore (ffelleborus). 

 Sepals petaloid; Petals 

 8 to IO, minute and tubu- 

 lar, modified to form nec- 

 taries ; Protogynous ; Pol- 

 linated by insects ; H. 

 Niger is the Christmas 

 Rose. 



Anemone (Anemone ne- 

 tnorosa], Involucre of 3 

 bracts ; Sepals (petaloid) 

 white or purple ; Petals 

 absent ; Pollinated by in- 

 sects, wind, or self. 



Traveller's Joy (Clema- 

 tis vitalba}. Slem woody, leaves opposite ; Sepals 4 to 6, white ; 

 Petals absent ; Pollinated by insects. 



Larkspur (Delphinium). Sepals 5, either separating or cohering 

 below ; one is spurred ; Petals small. 



Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris}. Grows in marshes and wet 

 ditches ; Sepals 5, large and yellow ; Petals absent. 



Columbine (Aqttilegia vulgaris}. Flowers purple and solitary or in 

 panicles ; Sepals 5, petaloid and regular ; Petals 5, spurred ; Prot- 

 androus ; Pollinated by insects. 



Properties of Eanunculaceae. The plants of this order are very rich 

 in substances that possess poisonous properties. The most poisonous 

 plants are Aconitum (all species). The root of this genus has 

 been mistaken for the Horse-radish. It can be distinguished by the 

 following characters : 



FIG. 239. i, Flower of Monkshood ; 2, stamens 

 nectaries, and pistil. (S.) 



Aconitum. 



The rootstock is from two to 

 three inches in length, and ends 

 in a point. 



It is coffee coloured, and pos- 

 sesses no pungent smell. 



If scraped when fresh it turns 

 pink. 



Horse-radish. 



The rhizome is from three to 

 four times as long as the root of 

 Aconitum. 



It is of a light yellow colour, 

 and possesses a pungent smell. 



It does not turn pink when 

 scraped. 



The root of Aconitum is largely used in medicine. 



