676 FAMILIES OF ANGIOSPERMS. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY OF THE BUTTERCUP. 



1165. The buttercup. If preferred, a species of buttercup may be 

 studied instead of the marsh-marigold, but a comparison with the latter 

 is desirable. 



The entire plant. Describe form and habit of the plant; the character 

 of the stem; branching; the form and arrangement of the leaves; the 

 character of the roots (these characters will depend on the species). 



The inflorescence. What kind of inflorescence? What parts of the 

 flower are present? Describe the color and form of members of the dif- 

 ferent sets of the flower. Determine the number of members in each set 

 (approximately if not accurately). 



Sketch a sepal, a petal (is a nectar-gland present?), a stamen, and a 

 pistil, noting carefully the characters of each. 



Do the stamens all ripen their pollen at the same time? Is there any 

 advantage as regards the time of ripening of the stamens ? 



What is the relation of the members of a set among themselves? What 

 is the relation of the sets to each other? 



Is the flower perfect or imperfect, complete or incomplete ? Is it regular 

 or irregular; hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous? Are the parts of the 

 flower free and distinct, or adherent, or coherent? 



If fruit is present, determine the number of seed in a ripe fruit, and 

 also what parts of the flower make up the fruit. 



If there is time, a comparison of the flowers, fruit, and leaves of different 

 species of the Ranunculus will be found interesting, especially species from 

 dry and wet ground, as well as some of the species which grow in the water. 



Construct the formula for the buttercup flower; also construct the floral 

 diagram. 



Material. Entire plants, some flowering stems with flowers, some with 

 fruit. Fresh material when possible. 



ORDER PAPAVERALES. 



1166. Lesson X. The mustard family (Cruciferse). This 

 is well represented by the tooth wort (Dentaria), which we studied 

 in a former chapter. The flowers are regular, and the parts are 

 usually in twos (dimerous) or in fours (tetramerous). (If the 

 toothwort has been studied, the shepherd' s-purse may be omitted.) 



SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY OF THE SHEPHERD' S-PURSE. 



1167. The shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris). -If it is desired 

 to study a species besides the toothwort, the shepherd's-purse will answer. 

 It is a common and widely distributed species, found in waste places and 

 in fields. 



