BUTTERCUP FAMILY 83 
II. NELUMBO Adans. 
Rootstock large and stout. Leaves round, shield-shaped, 
often raised above the water. Flowers large, raised above water 
at first, but often submerged after blooming. Sepals and petals 
hypogynous, numerous, the inner sepals and outer petals not 
distinguishable from each other. Stamens many, hypogynous. 
‘ Pistils several, 1-ovuled, borne in pits in the flattish upper sur- 
face of a top-shaped receptacle, which enlarges greatly in fruit. 
1. N. lutea Pers. AMerrcan Lotus, Water Curnauarin. Root- 
stock often 3-4 in. in diameter, horizontal. Leaves 1}-2} ft. broad, 
prominently ribbed, with much bloom above, often downy beneath. 
Petioles and peduncles stout. Flowers pale yellow, 5-9 in. broad. 
Sepals and petals falling quickly. Fruit top-shaped, 3-4 in. in diam- 
eter; the seeds } in. in diameter. In ponds and slow-running streams 
W., introduced from the Southwest.* 
33. RANUNCULACEA. Buttercup Fairy 
Herbs, rarely shrubs, usually with biting or bitter juice. 
Leaves basal or alternate (in Clematis opposite; stem leaves 
or involucre whorled in Anemone); stipules none or adnate 
to the petiole. Floral organs all distinct and unconnected. 
Sepals 5 or more (rarely 2-4), falling early, often petal-like. 
Petals none, or 5 or more (rarely 5). Stamens many. Carpels 
many, 1-celled; stigmas simple; ovules 1 or more. Fruit com- 
posed of 1-seeded akenes or many-seeded follicles. Seeds small. 
A 
Flowers zygomorphic. 
With a spur. Delphinium, NII 
With a hood. Aconitum, XII 
B 
Flowers actinomorphic. 
1. Petals present (in (c) not very unlike the stamens). 
(a) Petals very large and showy. Peonia, IX 
(b) Petals small, tubular at the tip. Coptis, X 
(c) Petals narrow. spatulate, on slender claws. Actea, XIV 
(2) Petals prolonged backward into spurs. Aquilegia, XI 
(e) Petals flat, with a little scale at the base, inside. Ranunculus, I 
