SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



511 



the bright colour of the perianth, or when it is reduced as in the 

 species of Thalictrum, of the andrcscium, and the development of 

 nectaries (Fig. 462). The nec- 

 taries are developed either as small 

 depressions at the base of the 

 petals {Ranunculus), or the whole 

 petal is transformed into a cup- 

 shaped nectary (Helleborus, Aconi- 



tum). 



According to . views at one time 

 largely held, such " honey -leaves'' and 

 also the petals of Ranunculus were re- 

 garded as staminodia. 



The carpels of the Ranuncu- 

 laceae are converted at matu- FlG - 462 — 1 > Flower of Amnitum Mmn«s ; 2, 



. . T 7 nectaries, androecium and gynoecium of the 



rity into capsules (Helleborus, same . (After wossidlo.) 



Aconitum, Fig. 463), or as in 



Ranunculus (Fig. 464) and Anemone, into nutlets or achenes, frequently 



having long, feathery appendages (Clematis, Pulsatilla, Fig. 470), or, 



less frequently, into berries (Actaea, Hydrastis). 



Representative Genera. — With Capsules : Nigella, carpels syncarpous ; 

 Paeonia, Oaltha, with corollaceous calyx and no corolla ; Aquilegia (Columbine), 

 flowers cyclic, with spurred petals ; Aconitum (see under Poisonous) ; Delphinium 

 (Larkspur), flowers zygomorphic, one sepal with long spur. With Nutlets : 

 Rammculus (Crowfoot, Buttercup), with green calyx and usually with yellow 



Fig. 463. — AconUum Xapelhts. o, Fruit 

 (nat. size) ; b, seed (x 2). 



Fig. 464. — u, Apocarpous fruit of RumtnciUus 

 accr ( x iU) ; &, a carpel ; c, the same in 

 longitudinal section (6, c, x 4). 



corolla, petals with nectaries ; Adonis, Anemone, with single corollaceous perigone ; 

 Thalictrum (Meadow - Rue), with small, greenish perigone and long stamens ; 

 Clematis, climbing plants with opposite leaves, flowers with single, corollaceous 

 perigone. 



Geographical Distribution. — The Eanunculaceae are represented chiefly in 

 the North Temperate Zone. Many are favourite ornamental plants, especially 

 different species of Paeonia, Clematis, Aquilegia, Nigella, Adonis, and the Christmas- 

 Rose, Helleborus niger. 



