128 OBJECT LESSONS IN BOTANY 



Mary (reads the oharacter of the genus Ranunculus aloud)- 



Teacher. We are now ready for the analysis of the species. Mary is i;ext. 



Ma/ry. " Petals yellow. Seeds (carpels) rough with prickles. Flowers 

 small. South 



" Petals yellow, seeds smooth and even 



"Petals white (claws yellow). Seeds wrinkled crosswise." This spa 

 oimen, has smooth seeds and yellow petals, Pass to a. 



Louisa. " Leaves more or less divided," &c. This second line of the 

 triplet describes the plant. Pass on to S. 



Nancy. " Boot leaves neither divided nor cletft, merely crenate. 



" Lower leaves three-cleft, but not divided to the base. 



"Leaves all terllately divided and much cleft." Pass to c. 



Lucy. " Sepals reflexed in flower. Plants erect. 



" Sepals spreading Lu flower, shorter than the petals." The sepals are 

 reflexed. Bead Nos. 14, 15. 



Emily, after reading both descriptions, finally concludes that she holds 

 in her hand a specimen of the Bulbous Crowfoot, or Kanuncnlus bulbosus, 

 in which conclusion all concur. 



LESSON XXXIV 



VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS AND (.AUTIONS. 



274. The work of analysis is often attended with dtfficul 

 ties which severely try the skill and perseverance of the 

 young botanist. So it often is in the study of Algebra, or of 

 Logic ; indeed, in nearly every valuable branch of learning 

 His decisions may be wrong through a want of a thorough 

 acquaintance with botanical tenns, or through his ignorance 

 of the real characters of his specimens. Of course his success 

 will always be in proportion to the accuracy of his knowl 

 -ei^ge, — ^here, as well as in all other pursuits. 



274. Mention two sourdfes of error in the analysis of plants 



