EANTJNCULACE^. 67 



In moist pastures and thickets and waste places, in mountainous districts, 

 in central and southern Europe and Russian and central Asia, extending 

 northwards into Scandinavia. In Britain perhaps only an introduced plant, 

 but apparently wild in some shady places in western England and South 

 Wales. Fl. summer. 



Two or three exotic species are often cultivated in our perennial borders. 



XIII. BANEBERRV. ACTJEA. 



Perennial herbs, with the leaves chiefly radical, their stalk divided, the 

 segments or leaflets distinct. Sepals 4, small, petal-like. Petals 4, small, 

 on distinct claws. Stamens numerous, as long as or longer than the petals, 

 with small anthers. Carpel soHtary, becoming a berry when ripe, with 

 several seeds. 



A small -genus, spread over the northern hemisphere, with much of the 

 general habit of Thalictrum, but differing in the presence of both sepals and 

 petals, in the anthers and fi-uit. 



1. Common Baneberry. Actsea spicata, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 918. Baneberry. Herb Christopher.') 



Radical leaves large, not unhke those of several UmbelUfers, the stalk 

 usually twice divided into 3 or 5 pinnately arranged branches, the segments 

 or leaflets ovate, pointed, often 3-lobed, and coarsely toothed, of a deep green, 

 and quite glabrous. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, with few leaves, much smaller than 

 the radical ones. Flowers small, nearly white, in a short, loose, oblong, 

 terminal raceme. Berries small, nearly black. 



In mountain woods and pastures, in central and Eastern Europe, Russian 

 Asia, and northern America, extending to the Arctic circle. In Britain very 

 local, and only in northern England. Fl. May. 



XIV. P,ffiONY. P.^ONIA. 



Large perennials, the leaves chiefly radical, with divided stalks and dis- 

 tinct segments or leaflets, the flowers large and handsome. Sepals 5, herba- 

 ceous. Petals 5 or more, much larger. Stamens numerous, inserted on a 

 fleshy disk. Carpels 2 to 5, each with several seeds. 



A very distinct genus, consisting of but very few species, indigenous in 

 southern Europe and temperate Asia. 



1. Common Pseony. Pseonia officinalis, Linn. 

 (P. corallina, Eng. Bot. t. 1513.) 



Rootstock emitting a cluster of tVuck tuberous roots. Stem 1 to 2 feet 

 high. Radical leaves twice ternate, the segments ovate, entire, or divided 

 into two or three deep lobes. Flowers deep red. Carpels large and thick, 

 very downy, and, when ripe, more or less reciu*ved. 



In hilly districts, in southern Europe and central Asia, from the Pyrenees 

 to the Caucasus and Himalaya. Not indigenous to Britain, but appears to 

 have been naturahzed in the rocky clefts of the " Steep Holme " Island, in 

 the Severn. Fl. May or June. The variety there found is the one usually 

 considered as a species, under the name of P, corallina, the name of P. offi- 



