CROWFOOT OR BUTTERCUP FAMILY 



481 



plants are like those of the preceding families in character of 

 the ovary and seeds but differ from them in having a perianth 

 differentiated into a showy corolla 

 and a large calyx (Fig. 426). They 

 are regarded as a transition group 

 between the Apetalae and Poly- 

 petalae. Among them are some 

 garden favorites, such as the Carna- 

 tions, Pinks, Sweet Williams, and 

 Lychnis, and also some weeds of 

 which the Chickweeds, Corn Cockle, 

 Cow-herb, and Bouncing Bet are 

 common ones. 



Polypetalae 



FIG. 426. A portion of a 

 plant of Corn] Cockle (Agro- 

 stemma Githago) (x). The 

 flowers have a perianth consist- 

 ing of a calyx and showy corolla. 

 Modified from Beal. 



As previously stated the Poly- 

 petalae have petals and the petals 

 are generally separate. The colored 

 corolla is usually distinct from the 

 green calyx, and the flowers are pol- 

 linated chiefly by insects. Among 

 the lower families of the Polypeta- 

 lae, as the Buttercups (Ranunculaceae) illustrate, the flower usu- 

 ally has numerous stamens and a number 

 of separate pistils. The calyx and corolla 

 are also attached below the stamens and 

 pistils or, in other words, the flowers are 

 hypogynous. In passing to the more ad- 

 vanced families of the Polypetalae, the 

 number of stamens and carpels become 

 more definite, and assume the cyclic ar- 

 rangement. There is also a tendency for 

 the carpels to join and a tendency of the 

 flower toward epigyny in the higher 

 families. 



Crowfoot or Buttercup Family (Ranun- 

 culaceae) . This family includes numer- 

 ous species, mostly herbs, having in common separate petals, 

 and separate sepals. The stamens and commonly the carpels 



FIG. 427. A flower 

 of a Buttercup, showing 

 the many stamens and 

 pistils. X 2. 



