POLYPETAL^— RANUNCULACE^ 119 



the stem is erect, and in R. bulbosus it is swollen at the base. 

 In R. repens the stem is not erect, but forms creeping runners, 

 which are fixed to the soil by adventitious roots given off from 

 the nodes. Inflorescence : — cymose ; the axis ends in a 

 flower. When present, the lateral inflorescences are two- 

 branched (dichasia) or one-branched (monochasia). Note the 

 two small prophyllst on each lateral axis of the inflorescence, 

 and that in the region of the flowers the leaves are 

 simplified; they are bracts. Flower (figs. 60, 61). — The 

 flowers of these three species of buttercup are so alike that one 

 general description will suffice. The flowers are hemicyclic, 

 monoclinous ( $ ), regular, and hypogynous. Sepals {cal, sp) 

 five, separate, green. Petals {cor, p) five, alternating with the 

 sepals, separate. Note that there is a little pocket — the nectary 

 (n) — at the base of the inner face of each petal. Stamens (and) 

 numerous (00), hypogynous, spirally arranged, separate. 

 Carpels {gyn) numerous ( 00), apocarpous, superior, spirally 

 arranged on a conical receptacle (r). Each carpel contains one 

 basal ovule (o) in its one-chambered ovary ; style, very short ; 

 stigma, knob-like. Fruit : — compound, consisting of numerous 

 achenes (fig. 115) upon a common receptacle. (Each achene 

 is derived from one carpel.) Seed endospermic (end) with a 

 minute embryo (emd). Pollination. — The outermost stamens 

 ripen before the inner ones and before the carpels. Their 

 anthers dehisce towards the petals. At this early stage the 

 flower is practically staminate, for the stigmas cannot be 

 poUinated because they are not ripe, but are covered by the 

 closed anthers of the inner stamens. Gradually the rest of the 

 stamens ripen and dehisce, but the stigmas are ready for 

 pollination before the innermost stamens have dehisced. 

 Thus, when it first opens, the flower cannot be pollinated, 

 subsequently it can be either cross-pollinated or self-polHnated. 

 Many kinds of insects (beetles, flies, bees, and butterflies) visit 

 the flowers for the sake of the scarcely-concealed honey or for 

 the pollen, and act as polHnating agents. 



Type II.: MONKSHOOD (Aconitum napellus). 



The Monkshood differs from the Buttercups in the 

 following points : — Inflorescence, a terminal raceme. Calyx 

 (ps, as, Is) blue, petaloid; of the five sepals the posterior 



