20 RANUNCULACE^E. 



(sepals) commonly showy and white, or tinged with blue or 

 purple, sometimes red. 



Etymology. 'Ave/iavrj, the ancient name ; from Svefws, the wind, be- 

 cause the blossom was thought to open only when the wind blows. 



Properties. The juice is an acrid poison, as in the foregoing genera. 



Geographical" Distribution. Extratropical in both hemispheres, prin- 

 cipally in the northern ; and more than half the 73 known species are in- 

 digenous between the parallels of 40° and 50°, north latitude. 



PLATE 4. Anemone Pennsylvanica, Linn., — of natural size early in 

 the season ; without the base of the stem or the radical leaves. 



1. A stamen, enlarged. 



2. A pistil, enlarged. 



3. The same, with the ovary divided, displaying the ovule. 



4. Ovule detached (reversed), and more magnified. 



5. Head of carpels in fruit, of the natural size. 



6. Separate achenium, enlarged. 



7. Enlarged achenium divided, so as to show the cell and the seed. 



8. Vertical section of a more magnified seed, showing the minute embryo 



in place. 



