40 RANUNCULACEjE. 



Herbs, with erect and usually paniculate-branching stems, 

 from thickened and fibrose perennial roots ; the alternate 

 leaves bi - triternately compound ; and the large and showy 

 flowers singly terminating the stem and branches. Lower 

 leaves long-petioled ; the uppermost subsessile, or reduced to 

 bracts. Petioles more or less dilated at the base. Leaflets 

 roundish, incisely lobed, glaucous underneath. 



Etymology. Name from aquila, an eagle ; perhaps in allusion to some 

 fancied resemblance of the spur-shaped petals (nectaries of the older bota- 

 nists) to talons. 



Properties, &e. Rather bitter and astringent, but the seeds are acrid. 

 — The common European Columbine (A. vulgaris, L.) is cultivated in 

 every garden as an ornamental flower ; and our own wild species, which 

 everywhere adorns our rocks and sterile hills in spring, is equally showy, 

 and much more elegant and graceful. 



Geographical Distribution. A genus of nearly 30 known species, dis- 

 tributed over the cooler portions of the northern temperate zone. Only one 

 species is indigenous within the proper United States. 



PLATE 14. Aquilegia Canadensis, Linn. ; — summit of a stem 

 flower and fruit, of the natural size. 



1. A sepal, detached. 



2. A petal, detached. 



3. One of the sterile filaments. 



4. 5. Stamens. 



6. An anther, enlarged. 



7. The pistils, on the receptacle. 



8. A pistil, magnified ; the ovary divided longitudinally. 



9. A separate pod at maturity. 



10. A seed, magnified. 



11. Vertical section of the same, showing the embryo in the albumen. 



12. Embryo separated, and highly magnified. 



