112 



POPULAR FLORA. 



I. Polypetaloiis Division. 



1. CROWFOOT PAMILY. Order RANUNCULACEiE. 



Herbs, or sometimes slightly woody plants,, with a colorless juice, sharp or acrid to the 

 taste. Parts of the flower all separate and distinct, and inserted on the receptacle. Petals 

 often wanting or of singular shapes. Stamens many, or at least more than 12. Pistils 

 many, or more than one (except in Larkspur, Baneberry, and Bugbane), and entirely 

 separate, except in Fennel-flower, in fruit becoming akenes or pods, or sometimes berries. 

 The leaves are generally compound, or much cut or parted, and without stipules. 



M 256 



237. Flower of Pennavlvnnian Aiieniony. 238. Hnlfn flower of a Crowfoot, magmRsii. 239. A petal, sliowiiig its lillle scale 240. Pol! 

 •f Marsh -Marigold, opening. 241. A pistil of Anemony, nia^nilierl, the ovary cut tliroii^h to show the ovule in it 242 Akenc of Crow- 

 fool, enlarged. 243. Same, cut thronsll to show tlie seed in it. 244 Enlarged cross-section of tlie sepals of Vlrgin's-Bower No. 1, io His 

 bud. 915. Same of Virgin's-Bower No 3 £46. Altene and feathery tail orstylc of Virgin's-Bower No. 1. 



The genera are numerous. The following table or key leads to the name of each. 



Climbing plants, with opposite, generally compound leaves, no real petals, the edges of 



the sepals turned inwards in the bud, { Clematis) Virgin's-Boweb. 

 Not climbing: leaves all alternate except in Anemony: sepals overlapping in the bud. 

 Pistils many or several, one-seeded, becoming nkenes in fruit. 

 Petals none: but the sepals colored like petals. 



Three leaves under the flower exactly imitating a calyx, (Hepdtica) Hefatica. 



