188 I. RANUNCULACE^. 



ample, pinnatisect or decompound. Flowers conspicuous, purplish, white, or red. Europe-, 

 Asia. 



Ranunculaceff approach DiUeniacefe in the distinct iinhricate sepals, polypetalisni, hypogyny, polyandry, 

 adnate anthers, distinct carpels, anatropous ovules, capsular or follicular fruit, erect albuminous seed, 

 minute hasilar emhryo, and terminal inflorescence. Dilletiiacefe only differ in habit, persistent sepals, and 

 especially in having arillate seeds. Maanoliacetf offer the same analogies and differences; and are also 

 distinguished by their habit and their many-seriate petals. Jterberidee? have, like Ranunculacetp, distinct 

 sepals and petals, often nectariferous, adnate anthers, one or more free carpels, and albuminous seed ; but 

 their flower is iso- or diplo-stemonous, their anthers open by valves, and their embryo is axile and not 

 basilar. Tapavcracea differ in their syncarpous pistil, 2-merous flower and milky juice. Similar 

 relations exist with Nymphteacea, which further differ in their habit, 1-flowered scape, many-seriate 

 petals, largely dilated filaments, rayed stigma, and arillate seeds. Finally, some affinity has been discovered 

 with Sarracctiieer, which are distinguished by their peltate and petaloid stigma, their radical leaves with 

 tubular petiole, undeveloped blade, and 1-flowered scape. Ranunculacete are universally distributed, 

 but most inhabit temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere ; aa throughout Europe, from the 

 pea-shore to the limit of perpetual snow. The)' are rarer in North America and temperate Asia. Clematis 

 alojie is tropical, and is distinguished from all the other genera by its sannentose habit and opposite leaves. 

 Few Ranunculi inhabit the high mountains of the equator. Ranunculus, Caltha, and Clematis occur nearly 

 even-where. Adonis, Ceratocephalus, Eraiithii, llrllcborH*, flaridella, NiycJla, Pcconia, &c., belong exclu- 

 sively to the Old World; C'l/rforhi/ncha, Jfydrastis, Trautvctteria, Jiotrophis, and Xanthorhiza are their 

 New World representatives. Knowltonia inhabits South Africa, Hamadrycu extra-tropical South America, 

 and Naravelia tropical Asia; the other genera are dispersed over the northern hemisphere. 



Most Itaiiunctdacea are acrid, and more or less poisonous; but these properties are volatile, nnd 

 driven off by cooking and drying ; except in some cases, where they are alkaline, and consequently more 

 fixed and powerful. Their roots, when perennial, contain, besides the acrid, a bitter extractive principle, 

 contained in various proportions, with a volatile oil, which renders them drastic and emetic. Their seeds 

 are acrid ; some contain both a fixed and a volatile oil, and are aromatic. Clematis erccta, Vitalba and 

 Flamtiiula, are very acrid and vesicant. The juice of the leaves of C. Vitalba is used by beggars to 

 produce superficial sores and thus excite pity. C. cirrhosa from the Mediterranean region, C. crispa from 

 North America, and C. mauritiana from Madagascar, replace cantharides in those countries. The numerous 

 Ranunculi are often popularly used as vesicants ; the most acrid are R. Thora, an alpine plant, and 

 R. sceleratus, named by the Romans Sardonia, because it excites convulsive sardonic laughter : slow 

 cooking dissipates its poisonous properties, and renders it eatable as a potherb. So it is with Clematis Flam- 

 tuida, one of the most acrid species, the young shoots of which may be eaten without danger. Ranunculus 

 Ficaria, a common plant in damp hedges and woods, is very acrid before flowering, but the mucilage and 

 starch which are developed later render it eatable. R. alpestris is a vesicant and strong purgative; yet 

 the Alpine hunters chew its leaves to keep off giddiness and to strengthen them. 



Anemones are equally vesicant. A. nemorosa is used as such in some parts of Europe, and A. nelle- 

 borifolia replaces cantharides among the Peruvians ; as does Knowltonia, of South Africa. The Italians 

 prepare a rubefacient water with A. apennina, which the ladies are said to use to heighten their com- 

 plexion. A. rannncti-hides, a common northern species, is so acrid that the -Kamtschatkans poison their 

 arrows with it. A. Puhatilla is the richest in medical properties: though nearly inodorous, yet if bruised, 

 it emits a vapour that violently irritates the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and back of the mouth, 

 owing to the presence of a volatile acid, an alkali named anemonine, and a volatile oil. In a fresh state it 

 is used in paralysis, especially of the retina, in rheumatism, and in obstinate cutaneous diseases. 



Thalictrum flavum, 'rhubarbe des pauvres,' is administered in jaundice and intermittent fevers. 

 T. Corn uti is regarded in North America as a powerful alexipharmic. Delphinium CoHxoliiln, Larkspur, is 

 aperient, diuretic and vermifuge ; the seeds of D. Staphisaaria are drastic, emetic, and employed exter- 

 nally in a powder to destroy lice, and in skin diseases. The seeds of the NigeUtr are slightly acrid and 

 aromatic; they are used in the South of Europe and in the East to flavour bread. CoptutrifoKsta is a sub- 

 arctic plant of both worlds, renowned for its stomachic properties ; it yields a yellow colouring principle. 

 The root of C. Tecta is much celebrated in India and China as a powerful stimulant of the digestive* 

 organs. llydra*ti* (-(madam's yields botli a dye and a tonic medicine. 



