RANUNCULACE®.—P APAVERACE, 3 
flawer stalk, or in the form of one to many, several seeded small pods. 
Found over the whole globe but mainly in the cool and temperate regions. 
Nearly all the members of the order have a strong acrid juice which, 
although not poisonous under ordinary circumstances, renders them unpalat- 
able to stock, and unsuitable as fodder plants. Dried in the form of hay 
this character is partly lost, and if not too abundant, the presence of 
‘* Buttercup ’’ herbage in hay does not appreciably detract from its value. 
Many of the order are marsh loving or even aquatic plants. Apart from 
those which have a decorative value as garden plants (Globe flower, Colum- 
bine, Larkspur, &c.), and a few which yield medicinal extracts (Aconite, 
Hellebore), no members of the order have any economic value. Although 
the order includes many troublesome weeds, especially among the genus 
Ranunculus, only two appear to.be at all serious pests in Victoria. 
Ranunculus muricatus, L. The Soft Crowfoot. A native of the Mediter- 
ranean regions, especially common in Greece. It is a small intensely acrid 
plant, with small roughened fruits. It is useless for grazing and of little 
value even in dry fodder. It prefers moist ground where it is difficult 
to eradicate. Drainage and cultivation or the encouragement of the larger 
pasture plants and grasses will keep the plant under. The Swamp Lotus 
eo. larger Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Zotus corniculatus, L., var. uliginosus) is 
especially useful for. keeping down this Buttercup on moist pastures. It 
was an early introduction but does not appear likely to become generally 
troublesome. It is apt to block irrigation channels or open drains. 
R. arvensis, L. The Corn Ranunculus. It is a native of Europe and 
part of Asia, and probably introduced with corn. It is essentially a corn- 
field weed whose spread is favoured by slovenly cultivation and the use 
of impure seed, the latter ripening and being shed along with the corn. 
The seed, being different in size to corn, is easily separated by proper 
screening, sleving, and winnowing. The-plant has a strong bitter taste and 
although very difficult to eradicate when once established, its spread has not 
as yet. attained serious dimensions. It has no economic value. It is an 
erect annual with pale yellow flowers, and rather large flattened achenes 
bearing hooked or straight prickles. 
The Meadow Crowfoot and the Bulbous Buttercup, which are trouble- 
some weeds, do not appear to have as yet gained entrance to this State, but 
the Creeping and Celery-leaved Buttercups have already appeared. The 
acrid juice of these Buttercups also is somewhat injurious to stock when 
large quantities of the plants are-eaten. When dry, however, as in hay, 
the foliage appears to be harmless. 
Garden plants belonging to the Ranunculacez, which are poisonous, and 
have been known to kill or injure stock allowed: to eat the clippings from 
gardens, are Aconite or Monkshood (Aconitum Napellus); Larkspur 
(Delphinium) ; Hellebore or Christmas Rose (Helleborus). 
PAPAVERACEE (Poppy Famity). 
Herbaceous plants with a milky sap, usually two sepals and four 
petals, and numerous stamens. Fruit, a capsule (Garden and Field 
Poppy) or long pod (Sea Poppy). A small order, almost entirely native 
to: the north temperate zone. The seeds are small, produced 
usually in great abundance, and able to lie dormant in the soil 
in some cases for two or more years, germinating when softened or brought 
to the surface. A square yard of good soil will produce enough poppy. 
seed to produce a fair crop over an acre when well spread. Hence, when 
-once allowed to seed they are difficult to keep down. Manuring favours 
poppies less than it does the crop; hoeing, fallowing, and an occasional 
root crop also aid in keeping them under on land used for cereal grains. 
