188 STUDY OP COMMON PLANTS. 



time, if specimens are procurable, otherwise comparisons 

 should be deferred until a full supply of material is at 

 hand. 



I. We take first the wood anemone, Anemone nemo- 

 rasa, L. 



The anemone rises from a creeping rhizome that gives 

 off fine, fibrous roots. The simple stem bears a three- 

 leaved involucre and a single conspicuous flower. Each 

 leaf of the involucre is petiolate, without stipules, and 

 divided into three leaflets that are variously cut and 

 toothed, the lateral ones often divided nearly or quite to 

 the base. Similar radical leaves arise from the rhizome. 

 The flower has a calyx consisting of five or six (frequently 

 more) white sepals, that are often tinged with pink, many 

 distinct stamens, and a less number of carpels (15-20). 



See if your specimens agree throughout with the de- 

 scription just given. Name all the points in which the 

 anemone and early crowfoot agree and those in which 

 they differ. Incidentally observe the arrangements for 

 securing fertilization.^ 



II. Continuing our comparative study, we next take 

 the marsh marigold, Caltha palustris, L., and in the same 

 way compare it throughout with the anemone ^and early 

 crowfoot, noting as before all points of difference and 

 resemblance. Widely as the vegetative parts differ, it 

 is obvious that the flowers of all three species are almost 

 identical in their essential structural features. 



The marsh marigold presents several attractive features, 

 and cross-fertilization is effected through the agency of 

 insects, but self-fertilization may also take place. Cf. 

 Miiller, pp. 79, 80. 



1 Cf. Miiller, Fertilization of Flowers, pp. 72, 73. 



