356 ALLIES OP RANUNCULACE^E. MAGNOLIA TRIBE. 



Anemone and many plants of this tribe, the cultivated species 

 have the number very much increased, so that the stamens may 

 be even entirely replaced by them, and the outer ones then 

 approach the sepals in character. The gradual transition in the 

 form of the leafy parts, between the lower portion of the plant, 

 and the centre of the flower, which may readily be observed in 

 the common Garden Paeony, has been already noticed (.457-9). 

 514. As a considerable number of stamens is characteristic 

 of the plants of the order of Ranunculacese, when not modified 

 by cultivation, they mostly belong to the Linnasan class POLY- 

 ANDRIA. The orders of this class under which they are included, 

 are different, according to the number of styles which are deve- 

 loped. One British genus (Actaa, Bane-berry) allied to the 

 Pseonies, has but a single carpel and style, and therefore belongs 

 to the order Monogynia, where it is associated with the plants 

 of the Poppy tribe. The Paaonies, Hellebores, Larkspurs, Co- 

 lumbines, and Aconites, have styles varying in number from 2 

 to 6, and are placed in the order Pentagynia (ym?-styled), -an 

 example of the very loose and indefinite application of terms in 

 this kind of classification. The only British genus associated 

 with them in this order is the Stratiotes or Water- Soldier, so 

 named from its sword-shaped leaves, which is an Endogenous 

 plant belonging to the Frog-bit tribe. The Ranunculus, Ane- 

 mone, Clematis, Marsh-Marigold, and their allies, having a large 

 number of styles, are placed together in the order Polygyma, 

 which contains no other British genus. 



515. Succeeding the Ranunculaceaa in a natural arrange- 

 ment, is an order apparently very different from it, of which a 

 brief mention will suflice. This is the splendid Magnolia tribe, 

 of which no species are natives of this country, but of which 

 more than one has been introduced into gardens ; and, although 

 natives of warm climates, they thrive well in the milder parts of 

 Britain, if protected by a wall. The Magnolias are for the 

 most part large and beautiful trees, sometimes attaining the 

 height of 90 feet, and surpassing almost all the other denizens of 



