128 OBJ EOT LESSONS IN BOTANY 



Mary (reads the character of the genus Ranunculus aloud). 



Teacher. We are now ready for the analysis of the species. Mary is next. 



Mary. "Petals yellow. Seeds (carpels) rough with prickles. FlowerH 

 small. South. . ._. . 



" Petals yellow, seeds smooth and even 



"Petals white (claws yellow). Seeds wrinkled crosswise." This spe 

 cimen has smo6th seeds and yellow petals. Pass to a. 



Louisa. " Leaves more or less divided," &c. This second line cf the 

 triplet describes the plant. Pass on to &. 



Nancy. " Root leaves neither divided nor cleft, merely crenate. 



" Lower leaves three-cleft, but not divided to the base. 



" Leaves all ternately divided and much cleft." Past, to c. 



Lucy. u Sepals reflexed in flower. Plants erect. 



" Sepals spreading in flower, shorter than the potals." The sepals ore 

 reflexed. Read Nos. 14, 15. 



Emily, after rending both descriptions, finally concludes that she holds 

 in her hand a specimen of the Bulbous Crowfoot, or Ranunculus bulbosus. 

 in which conclusion all concur. 



LESSON XXXLV 



VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS AND CAUTIONS. 



274. THE work of analysis is often attended with diflicul 

 ties which severely try the skill and perseverance of the 

 young botanist. So it often is in the study of Algebra, or of 

 Logic ; indeed, in nearly every valuable branch of learning 

 His decisions may be wrong through a want of a thorough 

 acquaintance with botanical terms, or through his ignorance 

 of the real characters of his specimens. Of course his success 

 will always be in proportion to the accuracy of his knowl 

 edge, here, as well as in all other pursuits. 



274. Mention two sources of error in the analysis of plants 



