52 RANUNCULACE^. 



*§> Macrotys ; or subulate with the acute style, which is mi- 

 nutely stigmatose unilaterally, commonly stipitate. Ovules 

 numerous, horizontal, in two series on the whole length of 

 the ventral suture, anatropous ; the raphes ventral. 



Follicles in ■§> Macrotys ovoid, turgid, sessile, and filled 

 with numerous depressed- flattened (horizontal) smooth seeds, 

 as in Actaea ; or else compressed and membranaceous, with 

 fewer and laterally compressed (vertical) seeds ; their testa 

 thickly clothed all over with slender squamulose projections. 

 Embryo minute, next the hilum, at the base of firm albumen. 



Herbs, with tall stems from matted and knotty rootstocks, 

 ample bi - triternate leaves much as in Acteea, and virgate ra- 

 cemes, either simple or panicled. Flowers white, the odor 

 unpleasant. 



Etymology and Properties. Name from cimex, a bug, and fugo, to 

 drive away ; the Siberian species being employed as a bug-bane. The sen- 

 sible properties are much as in Actasa, but with more bitterness. The Black 

 Snake-root is a famous Indian antidote against the bite of venomous snakes. 



Geographical Distribution. A genus of few species, natives of the 

 cooler parts of the northern temperate zone, chiefly in Asia and N. America. 



Note. Macrotys should probably rank as a genus ; but Actinospora ap- 

 pears not to be distinguished by characters of equal importance. 



PLATE 20. Fig. 1-13. Cimicifuga (Macrotys) racemosa, Ell. ; — 

 a lateral raceme, &c. (Botanic Garden, Cambridge.) 



1. A flower-bud, somewhat enlarged. 



2. An outer, and 3, an inner, sepal, enlarged ; inside view. 



4. A petal or staminodium, enlarged. 



5. A stamen, enlarged, inside view ; and 6, an outside view of the same. 



7. Pistil and receptacle, magnified. 



8. Vertical section of the same. 



9. An ovule, magnified, the upper face presented to the eye. 



10. A portion of the raceme in fruit ; natural size. 



11. Transverse and vertical section of a pod, showing the seeds. 



12. A seed, magnified. 



13. Section of the same, showing the minute embryo. 



14. Enlarged flower of Cimicifuga Americana, Michx. (from the Allegha- 



iiies) ; — most of the stamens and the petals except one removed. 



15. The five long-stalked follicles of the same ; natural size. 



16. A dehiscent follicle and seeds, enlarged. 



17. A seed, more magnified. 



18. Transverse section of the same. 



19. Vertical section of the same, showing the minute embryo. 



