RA NUNCULA CEA E. 4 1 3 



of follicles in fruit. Stamens numerous. [Old German, trol, something round.] 

 About 10 species, natives of the north temperate zone. Only the following and 

 one from the Rocky Mts. are N. American. 



i. Trollius laxus Salisb. AMERICAN GLOBE-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 1548.) 

 Stems slender, ascending, 3-6 dm. long. Leaves all but the upper petioled, pal- 

 mately 5 y-parted, 510 cm. wide, the segments obovate, cuneate, lobed, cleft or 

 toothed; flowers 2.5-3.5 cm. broad; sepals 5-7, ovate or obovate, obtuse, spread- 

 ing; petals 15-25, minute, much shorter than the stamens; head of fruit about 

 2 cm. broad, the follicles 10 mm. long, each tipped with a straight subulate beak of 

 one-fourth its length. In swamps, N. H. to Del., west to Mich. May-July. 



4. HELLEBORUS L. 



Erect perennial herbs, with large palmately divided leaves, the basal long- 

 petioled, the upper sessile and sometimes reduced to bracts. Flowers large, white, 

 greenish or yellowish. Sepals 5, broad, petaloid, mainly persistent. Petals small, 

 unguiculate, tubular. Stamens oo . Carpels generally few, sessile, in fruit form- 

 ing several- seeded capsules, which are dehiscent at the apex at maturity. [The 

 classical name for H. orient alls ; derivation unknown.] About 10 species, natives 

 of Europe and western Asia. 



i. Helleborus viridis L. GREEN HELLEBORE. (I. F. f. 1549.) Stout, 3-6 

 dm. high, glabrous. Basal leaves 2-3 dm. broad, on petioles 15-25 cm. long, di- 

 vided into 7-1 1 oblong acute sharply serrate segments; stem hardly exceeding the 

 basal leaves, and bearing several sessile similar leaves near the top subtending the 

 large flowers; sepals broadly oblong, obtuse, spreading, about 2.5 cm. long; petals 

 2-lipped, 4 mm. long; pods 16 mm. long, tipped with a slender beak one-third their 

 length or longer. In waste places, locally adventive from Europe in N. Y., N. J., 

 Penn., N. Car. and W. Va. May. 



5. CAMMARUM Hill. (Erdnthis Salisb.) 



Low herbs, with perennial tuberiferous rootstocks. Basal leaves palmately dis- 

 sected. Cauline leaf one, borne near the summit of the stem, sessile or amplexi- 

 caul, immediately subtending the large yellow flower. Sepals narrow, petaloid, 

 deciduous. Petals, small two-lipped nectaries. Stamens numerous. Carpels 

 commonly few, stipitate, many-ovuled, in fruit forming a head of follicles. [Greek, 

 for aconite.] About 5 species, natives of Europe and the mountains of Asia. 



i. Cammarum hyemale (L.) Greene. WINTER ACONITE OR HELLEBORE. 

 (I. F. f. 1550.) Erect, simple, 12-20 cm. high. Basal leaves long-petioled, 3 

 dm. broad, divided and cleft into numerous linear or oblong lobes; cauline leaf 

 similar, involucrate, sessile, clasping; flower solitary, 3-4 dm. wide, sessile; sepals 

 5-9, membranous, obovate, obtuse; stamens numerous; anthers obtuse; follicles 

 compressed, I cm. long, tipped with a sharp beak. Nat. from Europe at Bartram's 

 Garden, Philadelphia, and at Media, Penn. February. \Eranthis hy emails Salisb.] 



6. COPTIS Salisb. 



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.] 

 About 9 species, of the north temperate zone. In addition to the following, three 

 others are found on the Pacific Coast. 



i. Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb. GOLD-THREAD. (I. F. f. 1551.) Tufted, 

 glabrous, 7-15 cm. high from a slender yellow rootstock. Leaves evergreen, long- 

 petioled, the blade reniform, 3-5 cm. broad, 3-divided ; segments broadly obo- 

 vate, cuneate, obtuse, prominently veined, crenate or slightly lobed, dark green 

 and shining above, the teeth mucronate; scape i -flowered; sepals oblong, obtuse; 

 follicles 3-7, about 6 mm. long, borne on stipes of about their own length, spread- 

 ing, tipped with a beak 2-3 mm. long. In damp mossy woods and bogs, Newf. to 

 Md., E. Tenn., Minn., Br. Col. and Alaska. May-Aug. 



7. 1SOPYRUM L. 



Slender glabrous herbs, with ternately decompound leaves, and white flowers. 

 Sepals 5-9, petaloid, deciduous. .Petals 5, nectariform, or none. Stamens numer- 



