198 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



heightened in power by acids, spirits, sugar, c. The species of Ranun- 

 culus (Crowfoots or Buttercups) are acrid when fresh, especially R. 

 sceleratus and R. Flammula. Similar properties prevail in the tribes 

 Clematidete and Anemonece. The Helleborece are the most active of the 

 RanunculaceEe, the species of Aconitum (Monkshood) being among the 

 most dangerous of poisonous plants, and containing an extremely powerful 

 alkaloid, aconitina. The species of this genus appear to ditfer in the 

 quality of their juices when grown tinder varied conditions, somewhat 

 like the Hemp-plant, since the roots of the most poisonous of them are said 

 to be eaten with impunity in the higher parts of the Himalayas. A. Na- 

 pellus (fig. 342) and A. Cammarum (paniculatum] are well-known poisonous 

 European Monkshoods ; and, according to Dr. Hooker, the celebrated 

 " Bikh " poison of India is obtained indiscriminately from A. Napellus, 

 luridum-j and palmatum, as well as from A. ferox, L., which was sup- 

 posed to be the sole source. The yellow A. Lycoctonum of Central Europe 

 is far less active. The seeds of Delphinium Staphisayria (Stavesacre) are 

 drastic purgatives and emetics ; the Hellebores (Helleborus mger, oriental-is, 

 a,nd.fcetida especially) are likewise violent evacuants, and the Pseonies fall 

 into the same category. The berries of the Acteee are poisonous. Some 

 of the milder plants are used as tonics, on account of the powerful 

 bitter they contain, as the Yellow-root (Hydrastis canadensis) and the 

 Gold-thread ( Coptis trifoliata), both North-American plants. The pungent 

 seeds of Nigella satira were formerly used as pepper. The root of' Actcea 

 racemosa is used medicinally under the name Radix Cimicifuyce. 



Many of the Ranunculacefe are favourite garden plants : for example 

 the species of Clematis, Anemone, Ranunculus, Eranthis (Winter Aconite), 

 Ifelleborus, Nigetta, Aquileaia (Columbines), DelpJiinium (Larkspurs), 

 Aconitum (Monkshood), and Pceonia. 



DILLENIACE^E are trees or shrubs mostly with alternate leathery 

 feather-veined leaves, generally destitute of stipules ; an imbricated 5- 

 merous calyx and corolla (the former persistent) ; numerous hypogynous 

 stamens ; solitary, few, or numerous, distinct or rarely coherent carpels ; 

 seeds several, 2, or 1 by abortion, arillate ; perisperm fleshy. Illustrative 

 Genera : Dillenia, L. ; Hibbertia^ Andr. ; CandoUea, Labill. 



Affinities, &c. Connected with KanunculaceaB by many important points 

 of structure, these plants are at once distinguishable by the arborescent 

 habit, the persistence of the calyx and the stamens, and the arillate seed ; 

 they are even nearer to the Magnoliacese, but have no stipules, and the 

 plan of the flower is here 5-merous ; they are also related to the Ano- 

 nacese, which, however, have a valvate calyx and ruminated perisperm. 

 Some of the genera (Hemistemma, Pleurandra) have all the stamens on 

 one side of the flower ; others have them united into separate bundles, 

 probably representing so many divided stamens. A relationship between 

 this Order and the Ternstroemiaceae is established by the genus Sauraja. 



Number and Distribution. A small group of 17 genera and about 

 180 species, which are natives chiefly of India, South America, and 

 Australia ; a few also of Africa, between the tropics. 



Qualities and Uses. The general character of this Order is astrin- 



