VOL. II.] CROWFOOT FAMILY 



i. Helleborus viridis L,. Green 

 Hellebore. (Fig. 1.549- ) 



Helleborus viridis L,. Sp. PI. 558. 1753. 



Stout, erect, l-2 high, glabrous. Basal 

 leaves S'-ia' broad, on petioles 6 / -io / long, 

 palmately divided into 7-11 oblong acute 

 sharply serrate segments 3 / -4 / long; stem 

 hardly exceeding the basal leaves, and bear- 

 ing several sessile similar leaves near the top 

 subtending the large drooping yellowish- 

 green flowers; sepals broadly oblong, obtuse, 

 spreading, about i / long; petals tubular, 2- 

 lipped, z" long; stamens widened; anthers 

 oblong, obtuse; pods 8" long, tipped with a 

 slender beak one-third their length or longer. 



In waste places, locally adventive from Eu- 

 rope in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania 

 and West Virginia. May. 



5. ERANTHIS Salisb. Trans. Linn. Soc. 8: 303. 1803. 



Low herbs, with perennial tuberiferous rootstocks. Basal leaves palmately dissected. 

 Cauline leaf one, borne near the summit of the stem, sessile or amplexicaul, immediately 

 subtending the large yellow flower. Sepals 5-8, narrow, petaloid, deciduous. Petals, small 

 two-lipped nectaries. Stamens numerous. Carpels commonly few, stipitate, many-ovuled, 

 in fruit forming a head of follicles. [Greek, flower of spring.] 



A genus of about 5 species, natives of Europe and the mountains of Asia. 



i. Eranthis hyemalis (L,.) Salisb. Win- 

 ter Aconite or Hellebore. (Fig. 1550.) 



Helleborus hyemalis L. Sp. PI. 557. 1753. 



Eranthis hyemalis Salisb. Trans. Linn. Soc. 8: 304. 

 1803. 



Erect, simple, s'-S' high from a tuberous-thick- 

 ened rootstock; roots fibrous. Basal leaves long- 

 petioled, i}4' broad, divided and cleft into numer- 

 ous linear or oblong lobes; cauline leaf similar, in- 

 volucrate,sessile,clasping; flower solitary, 1)4' wide, 

 sessile; sepals 5-9, membranous, obovate, obtuse, 

 occasionally lobed; petals several, clawed, 2-lipped; 

 stamens numerous; filaments filiform; anthers ob- 

 long, obtuse; carpels several, stipitate; follicles 

 compressed, 5" long, tipped with a sharp beak. 



Naturalized from Europe at Bartram's Garden, Phil- 

 adelphia, and at Media, Pa. February. 



6. COPTIS Salisb. Trans. Linn. Soc. 8: 305. 1803. 



Low herbs, with slender perennial rootstocks, basal compound or divided leaves, and 

 scapose white flowers. Sepals 5-7, petaloid, deciduous; petals 5-6, small, linear, cucullate. 

 Stamens numerous. Carpels stipitate, few, in fruit forming an umbel of follicles. [Name 

 from the Greek, referring to the cut or divided leaves.] 



A genus of about 9 species, inhabiting the cooler portions of the north temperate zone. In 

 addition to the following, three others are found on the Pacific Coast of North America. 



