PART II 

 CLASS I. DICOTYLEDONS 



RANUNCULACE.E 



HERBS with alternate or radical leaves, or in Clematis, climbers 

 with opposite leaves. Leaves often cut and flowers solitary or in 

 terminal racemes. Sepals distinct, usually 5. Petals distinct, 

 usually 5, but sometimes deformed or very minute or altogether 

 wanting. Stamens numerous, inserted on the receptacle. Carpels 

 several, distinct or partially united, each bearing a distinct style 

 and enclosing a single cell with one or more ovules or seeds attached 

 to the base or inner angle of the cavity. Many possess acrid or 

 poisonous properties, and several are used in medicine. A family 

 widely spread over the globe, but especially in temperate or cool 

 climates, and comprising about 700 species. In the tropics almost 

 entirely confined to high mountain ranges. 



CLEMATIS L. 



Stem usually climbing and often woody at the base. Leaves 

 opposite. Sepals 4 or 5, volvate in the bud, coloured and petal-like. 

 No real petals. Stamens numerous. Carpels numerous, i-seeded. 

 Widely spread over the globe, and almost the only representative of 

 the family in tropical climates. 



Clematis alpina Mill. (Atragene alpina L.). 



A creeping shrub. Stem branched, woody, spreading, decumbent 

 or climbing, swollen at the joints, scaly, leafy, and provided with 

 3-branched dry tendrils (the dead leaf -stalks of the previous year). 

 Leaves opposite, stalked, usually doubly ternate and slightly hairy ; 

 segments ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, unequally serrate, often 

 lobed or connate at the base. Flowers large and solitary, violet, on 

 long stalks, axillary, dependent. Petals small, erect, spathulate. 

 Sepals lanceolate, erect or patent. Carpels terminating in a long 

 beard, by which they are disseminated by the wind. 



Stony places in the Alps, and in woody sub-alpine districts, 

 especially on limestone ; often covering rocks and shrubs. 2500- 

 7000 feet. June to August. Occasionally in shady valleys down 

 to 2000 feet. 



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