128 OBJEUT LESSONS IN BOTANY 
Mary (reads the character of the genus Ranunculus aloud). 
Teacher, We are now ready for the analysis of the species. Mary is next. 
Mary. “ Petals yellow. Seeds (carpels) rough with prickles. Flowers 
small. South..... 
“ Petals yellow, seeds smooth and even..... 
“Petals white (claws yellow). Seeds wrinkled crosswise.” This spe 
cimen 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 6. 
Nancy. ‘ Root leaves neither divided nor cleft, merely crenate. 
“Lower leaves three-cleft, but not divided to the base. 
“ Leaves all ternately divided and much cleft.” Pass to ¢. 
Lucy. “Sepals reflexed in flower. Plants erect. 
“Sepals spreading in flower, shorter than the petals.” The sepals are 
reflexed. Read Nos. 14, 15. 
Emily, after reading both descriptions, finally concludes that she holds 
in her hand a specimen of the Bulbous Crowfoot, or Ranunculus bulbosus, 
in which conclusion all concur. 
ee 
LESSON XXXIV 
VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS AND (CAUTIONS. 
274. Tux work of analysis is often attended with difticul 
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 terms, 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 
edge,—here, as well as in all other pursuits. 
274. Mention two sources of error in the analysis of plants 
