BUTTERCUP FAMILY. Ranunculaccae. 



There are a few kinds of Atragene, resembling Clematis. 

 Purple Clematis S is P eculiarl y attractive, as the 

 Atrdgene ocd- flowers are large and beautiful and the 

 dentalis (Clematis) foliage very pretty. The leaves are 

 Violet, blue divided into three, pointed leaflets, which 



Summer are thin in tex t ure> light bright-green and 



prettily cut or lobed, and the trailing or 

 climbing stems are almost smooth, slender and purplish 

 above and woody below. The flowers, which are not in 

 clusters, measure from two to three inches across, with 

 four, sometimes five, violet or blue sepals, spreading widely 

 as the flower grows older, and the outer stamens are broad 

 and resemble small petals. The flowers are followed by 

 handsome feathery heads, which are large and silky. This 

 pretty vine is found in the Grand Canyon, not far below the 

 Rim, and in many mountain places. The foliage varies 

 somewhat in different climates. 



There are many kinds of Thalictrum, not easily dis- 

 tinguished, widely distributed, a few in the Andes, India, 

 and Africa; perennials, with tall stems, from a short root 

 stock, and handsome, compound leaves; the flowers perfec 

 or imperfect, many, small, in clusters, with four to sevei 

 sepals and no petals; the akenes tipped with the long style 

 and forming a head. Some of these plants have a disagree 

 able smell. They grow in moist places, both East and West 



Though its flowers are small and color 

 Meadow Rue . a , . . , 



Thalictrum less, this plant is conspicuous for dehcac; 



Findleri and grace. The leaves of tender green I 



Greenish-white suggest the fronds of Maidenhair Fern 

 Summer and are almost as beautiful, while the 



flowers are odd and pretty. A shower of 

 numerous, pale-yellow stamens, with purplish, threadlike 

 filaments, falls from the center of four, greenish- white 

 sepals and forms a charming little tassel. These tassels 

 hang on the ends of very slender pedicels, in loose clusters.: 

 The smooth stems are from one to three feet tall and the! 

 smooth leaves are thin in texture, thrice-compound, with 

 many, rounded leaflets, the lower leaves with long leaf- 1 

 stalks. This Meadow Rue has its pistils and stamens oc | 

 different plants, the flowers with tassels of stamens being ] 

 prettier and more conspicuous than the small, green, pis j 

 tillate ones. The variety Wrightii is common in Arizona 

 150 



