Clematis. . ■ RANUNCULACE^. 5 



Group 1. Ovaries several or numerous (in Berberidacere and a few other cases 

 solitary), distinct ; tchen in several rows, sometimes cohering together, hut not 

 united into a compound pistil. Stamens and pistils inserted on the receptacle 

 (hypogynous). Seeds albuminous. 



Order I. RANUNCULACE^. Juss. The Crowfoot Tribe. 



Calyx of 3 to 6 (but usually 5) distinct deciduous sepals, which (except in 

 Clematis) are imbricated in aestivation. Petals 3 to 15, sometimes irregular 

 or deformed, occasionally absent. Stamens indefinite, distinct (very rarely 

 definite). Ovaries numerous (rarely few or solitary), distinct ; ovules solitary 

 or several, anatropous. Carpels either dry achenia, or baccate, or follicular. 

 Seeds solitary or several. Embryo minute, at the base of fleshy or horny 

 albumen. — Herbaceous plants, rarely shrubs, sometimes climbing, with an 

 acrid watery juice. Leaves alternate (opposite in Clematis), usually palmately 

 or ternately divided, without stipules. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE TRIBES. 



Trite I. Anemone^:. Petals flat or wanting. Anthers mostly extrorse. Achenia numerous, caudate or subulate with 



the style. vSeed suspended. 

 Tribe II. Ranuncules:. Petals with a small nectariferous scale, pore or gland at the base inside. Anthers extrorse. 



Achenia numerous. Seed erect, or sometimes suspended. 

 Tribe III. Hellebore.^; Petals irregular, often bilabiate or tubular, nectariferous ; sometimes wanting. Calyx peta- 



loiil. Anthers mosi ly ( xtrorse. Carpels few (rarely solitary), follicular, with several seeds. 

 Tribe IV. CiMiciFUGEa:. Sepals petaloid. Petals (dihated sterile filaments or st.aminodia?) 3 - G. Anthers introrsc or 



innate. Carpels (cw, sometimes solitary, rarely numerous, follicular or baccate, and several-seeded ; or 



sometimes indehiscent and one-seeded. 

 Tribe V. Hydbastide^. Sepals 3, petaloid, caducous. Anthers innate. Ovaries numerous, 2-ovuled. Carpels 1 — 



3-seeded, baccate, in a globose head. 



Tribe I. ANEMONES. Torr. ^ Gr. '"' '■ ■ ^ '" 



CLEMATIDE.^ AKD ANEMONES. DC. ' '" > ' ' 



Petals flat or wanting. Anthers mostly extrorse. Achenia numerous, caudate, subulate or 

 mucronate with the persistent style. Seed suspended. 



1. CLEMATIS. Linn.; DC.Syst.l. p. 31. virgin's SOWER. 



[Named from the Greek, klcma, a shoot or tendril ; in allusion to the climbing habit of the genus.] 



Involucre none, or resembling a calyx and situated close to the flower. Sepals 4, colored, 

 in aestivation valvate, or sometimes with the edges bent inwards. Petals usually none, 



