2 CLASS DICOTYLEDONS 



conspicuous atid either polys) in metric or moiiosymmetric, The 

 st'/a/s A.nA petals sometimes graduate into one another, and are 

 often spurred, the sepals being 3, 5, or: more, and the petals often 

 absent, or 5, rarely 2, 4, or more. The s/aiiwns are indefinite in 

 number and hypogynous ; the airpeh rai;ely i or 2, generally 3 — 5 

 or more numerous, distinct, and forming either an etasrio of one- 

 seeded indehiscent achenes or a ring of many-seeded follicles. 

 In jlctita there is exceptionally a berryJlike fruit. The Order is a 

 numerous one, chiefly characteristic of 'temperate regions. Many 

 of them are garden favourites. Species of Aconiiuin yield valu- 

 able drugs. 



t Carpels \-secded 



1. Cl£m.\tis. — A shrub with opfiosite pinnate leave.5, climbing 

 by twisting its leaf-stalks ; sepals 4 6, petaloid, valvate ; petals o ; 

 carpels ending in a long feathery tail. 



2. Thalictru.m. — Sepals 4 — 5, petaloid, imbricate ; petals o ; 

 carpels without tails. 



3. Aneiione. — Involucre of three leafy bracts some distance 

 below the flower; sepals 4 — 20, petaloid, imbricate ; /(•.4? A o. 



*4. Adonis. — Sepals 5, petaloid, imbricate; petals 5—10, 

 scarlet ; carpels without tails. 



5. Myosurus. — A small plant ; sepals 5, imbricate, spurred ; 

 petals 5, tubular ; carpels along an elongated a\is. 



6. Ra.^ji'nculds.— 5(^(;A- 3—5, imbricate ; petals 5 or more, 

 with a nectary at the base ; carpels in aji oblong or globular head. 



tt Carpels inajix-seeded 



7. Caltha. — Sepals 5, petaloid, imbricate, yellow ; petals o ; 

 //uit of numerous follicles. 



8. TROLLius.^Sepals 5 — 15: petaloid, imbricate, yellow; 

 petals 5—15, small, linear, flat ; '/nilt of 5 or more follicles. 



9. Helleborus. — Sepals 5, persistent; petals 5 — 10, small, 

 tubular, bi-labiate ; fr/tlt of 3 'to lo sessib follicles. 



*io. ERA-r^THis.— Sepals 5, deciduous; petals 5, small, tubular, 

 bi-labiate, clawed ; /ritit of 5 or 6 slalk'ed follicles. 



II. AyuiLEGiA. — Sepals 5, petaloid, deciduous ; petals 5, large, 

 spurred ; fruit of 5 follicles.' 



*T2. DELPHfNiuil. — i7</?f'tv monosytiimetric ; sepals e,, petaloid, 

 deciduous, the posterior one spurred ; petals 2 —4, 2 enclosed in 

 spur; /;-//// of i — 5 follicles. 



Mk-uCTa the nmiihen, uf which arc pr,,,_„l,,l hy .,„ iu.lcrisk, and spocieb thr numbers of 

 which are followed by one, are probably not wild. 



