426 



RANUNCULACE.E. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



allies, to which it approaches in the position, number, and structure of its parts of fruc- 

 tification generally, differing however in abun- 

 dance of particulars ; as from Dilleniads in the 

 want of an aril, a deciduous calyx, and whole 

 habit ; from Magnoliads in the want of true sti- 

 pules ; from Poppies and Water-lilies in the dis- 

 tinct, not concrete, carpels, watery, not milky 

 fluids, and acrid, not narcotic properties. To 

 Berberids it approaches so very closely that Podo- 

 phyllum is by many authors placed in that Order ; 

 from which, however, it differs essentially in its 

 stamens not bursting by recurved valves ; it, how- 

 ever, evidently forms a connecting link between 

 the two Orders. More distant analogy may be 

 traced with Roseworts, with which Crowfoots 

 strikingly agree in their numerous carpels, floral 

 divisions, and indefinite stamens ; but differ in 

 their stamens being hypogynous instead of peri- 

 gynous, in the presence of large albumen sur- 

 rounding a minute embryo, want of true stipules, 

 and acrid properties. With Umbellifers they 

 accord in the last particular, and also in their 

 sheathing leaves, habit, and abundant albumen, 

 with a minute embryo ; but those plants differ 

 in their calyx being concrete with the ovary, 

 and in their stamens being invariably definite. 



Fig. CCXCVI. 



CCXCVIII. 



Another analogy has been indicated by Botanists 

 between this Order and Water-plantains, which agree 

 in their numerous carpels, habit, and sometimes in 

 a ternary structure of their flowers ; but Water- 

 plantains are monocotyledonous. An instance is 

 described of the polypetalous regular corolla of Cle- 

 matis viticella being changed into a monopetalous 

 irregular one, like that of Labiatae. — Nov. Act. Acad. 

 N. C. 14, p. 642, t. 37. The genus Pseoniais remark- 

 able for producing in one of its species, the Moutan, the 

 largest form of disk known in the vegetable kingdom. 

 The largest proportion of this Order is found in 

 Europe, which contains more than l-5th of the 

 whole ; North America possesses about l-7th, India 

 l-25th, South America l-17th ; very few are found 

 in Africa, except upon the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean : eighteecn species have, according to De 



Fig. CCXCVI.— Aquilegia vulgaris. 



Fig. CCXCVIT.— Delphinium tricorne. 1. petals and stamens ; 2. carpels; 3. a branch of ripe fruit. 



Fig. CCXCVlir. — The ovary of Psronia Moutan, surrounded by its broken disk. 



