GROUPS AND ORDERS. 143 



J Ovary apocarpous. 



70. Alismaceous plants herbs; flowers three-petaled, the se- 



pals and petals usually unlike or distinct, regular. 



*** Flowers perfect, ivith a dry calyx-like whorled perianth. 



71. Juncaceous plants perianth regular, six-leaved, brown. 



**** Flowers qlumaceous, i. e. formed of imbricated chaffy 

 scales or bracts (glumes). 



72. Cyperaceous plants herbs ; leaves grassy, with entire 



sheaths ; bracts one to each flower or floret. 



73. Graminaceous plants herbs ; leaves grassy, with their 



sheaths split on the side opposite the blade ; bracts two to 

 each flower or floret. 



[II.- GENERA OE FAMILIES.] 



1. Ranunculaceous Plants. RANUNCULACEJE. 



* Anthers bursting outwardly. 

 f Climbing shrubs with opposite leaves ; (carpels one-seeded.) 



(1) Clematis sepals 4-5, coloured and petal-like ; petals none. 



ft Herbs with the leaves alternate or radical. 

 J Carpels several, short, one-seeded ; (flowers regular). 



(2) Thalictrum sepals 4-5 or more, often coloured and petal- 



like ; petals none. 



(3) Adonis petals 5-10, conspicuous, usually red, without a 



nectariferous pore at their base. 



(4) Ranunculus petals five, rarely many, usually yellow or white, 



having a nectariferous pore at their base. 



%% Carpels several, many-seeded. 

 Flowers regular. 



(5) TroUius sepals 5-15, large, pale yellow, petal-like ; petals 



as manv, small, flat, linear. 



