50 RANUNCULACE/E. 



white flowers. Radical leaves similar to the cauline, but 

 larger. Petioles dilated at the base. Leaflets ovate, acute, 

 sharply incised and toothed, commonly 2 — 3-lobed. Bracts 

 minute. Raceme more or less elongated in fruit ; the ber- 

 ries bright red, purple, or white. 



Etymology. 'Aitre'a, an ancient name of the Elder; transferred by Lin- 

 naeus to this genus. 



Properties. Nauseous and acrid-narcotic, poisonous, especially in a 

 fresh stale, both the root and the berries. 



Geographical Distribution. A genus of few species, distributed over 

 the cooler portion of the northern temperate zone, chiefly in rich woods. 



PLATE 19. ActjEa rubra, Willd. ; — summit of a young flowering 

 plant, the leaf as yet small, and a fruiting raceme ; natural size. 



1. Expanding flower. 



2. Expanded flower. 



3. A sepal, enlarged. 



4. A petal, enlarged. 



5. A stamen, enlarged. 



6. The pistil, enlarged, on the receptacle. 



7. Same, with the ovary divided vertically. 



8. Transverse section of the same. 



9. An ovule, more magnified. 



10. A fruit, of the size of nature. 



11. Same, divided vertically. 



12. Same, divided transversely, and down the back, to display the seeds. 



13. A seed, enlarged, with the upper face presented to the eye. 



14. Section of the same, showing the embryo at the base of the albumen. 



15. Embryo, more magnified. 



