RANUNCOLACEJS. (CKOWFOOT FAMILY.) 11 



10. ISOPl'RirM, L. (ENiiMioN, Eaf.) 



Sepals 5, petal-like, decidnou?. Petals 5, minute, wanting in tlie American 

 species. Stamens 10-40. Pistils 3 - 6 or more, pointed witli tlie styles. Poda 

 ovate or oblong, 2 - several-seeded. — Slender smooth herbs, with 2 - 3-ternatcly 

 compound leaves ; tlie leaflets 2-3-lobed. Flowers axillary and terminal, 

 white. (Name from la-os, equal, and irvpos, wheat; of no obvious application.) 



1. I. bitcrnatlim, Ton-. & Gray. Petals none; pistils 3-6 (com 

 monly 4), divaricate in fruit, 2-3-seeded; seeds even. !{. — Moist shady pla 

 ces, Ohio, Kentucky, and westward. May. — Kbres of the root thickened here 

 and there into little tubers. Aspect and size of the plant much like Thalictrum 

 anemonoides. 



11. CAliTHA, L. Marsh Mabigold. 



Sepals 6-9, petal-like. Petals none. Pistils 5-10, with scarcely any styles. 

 Pods (follicles) compressed, spreading, many-seeded. Glabrous perennials, with 

 round and heait-shaped, or kidney-form, large, undivided leaves. (Name from 

 KoKaBos, a goblet, in allusion to the golden flower-cup or calyx.) 



1. C. paliistris, L. (Maksh Makigold.) Stem hollow, furrowed; 

 leaves round or kidney-shaped, either erenate or nearly entire ; sepals about 6, 

 broadly oval (bright yellow). — Swamps and wot meadows, common north- 

 ward. April, May. — Tliis well-known plant is used as a pot-Ii€rb in spring, 

 when coming into flower, under the name of Cowslips ; but the Cowslip is a 

 totally different plant, namely, a species of Primrose. The Caltha should bear 

 with us, as in England, the popular name of Marsh Marigold. (Eu.) 



12. TB6liIiIUS, L. Globe-flowek. 



Sepals 5-15, petal-like. Petals numerous, small, 1-lipped, tlie concavity 

 near the base. Stamens and pistils numerous. Pods 9 or more, sessile, many- 

 seeded. — Smooth perennials with palmately parted and cut leaves, like Ranun- 

 culus, and large solitaiy terminal flowers. (Name thought to be derived fi'om 

 the old German word troll, a globe, or something round.) 



1. T. l£iXR$, Salisb. (Speeading GLOBE-rLOWER.) Sepals 5-6, 

 spreading; petals 15-25, inconspicuous, much shorter than the stamens. — 

 Deep swamps. New Hampshire to Delaware and Michigan. May. — Flowers 

 twice the size of the common Buttercup ; the sepals spreading, so that the name 

 Is not appropriate, as it is to the European Globe-flower of the gardens, nor is the 

 blossom showy, being pale greenish-yellow. 



13. COPTIS, Salisb. Goldthhead. 



Sepals 5-7, petal-liie, deciduous. Petals 5-7, small, club-shaped, hollow at 

 the apex. Stamens 15-25. Pistils 3-7, on slender stalks. Pods divergent, 

 membranaceous, pointed with the style, 4 - 8-secded. — Low smooth perennials,- 

 with temately divided root-leaves, and small white flowers on scapes. (Nama 

 from Konro, to ait, alluding to the divided leaves.) 



