PLOEA INDICA. [Ranunculocea . 



13. COPTIS, Salisb. 



Sepala 5-6, regularia, colorata. Petala unguiculata, cucullata vel 

 linearia, non foveolata. FolUculi longe stipitati, stellatim patentes. — 

 Herbse rldzomate Iiorizontali perennantes ; foliis ternatim sectis ; scapis 

 pauciflorls ; floribus albidis. 



The few known species of this genus are confined to the colder parts of the north 

 temperate zone, one species being European and Siberian, while the rest are confined 

 to North America. The Indian species is scarcely known, although its root is ap- 

 parently much esteemed as a drug by the inhabitants of the mountains east of Assam, 

 in which it is indigenous, and whence it is exported to Bengal. It is very bitter. 



1. C.Teeta (Wall. Tr. Med. et Phyg. Soc. Calc. viii. 347, et in 

 Linnsea xii. 337); foliis trisectis, segmentis lobato-pinuatifidis, scapo 

 paucifloro, bracteis foliaceis lobato-tripartitis. — Gi-iffit/i Joiirn. 87. 



Hab. In montibus Mishmi, in zona tempevata. Wall. Orijf. 



Radix subcamosa, multiceps, fibrillosa, intus luteo-aurea. Folia glabra, rigida, 

 circumscriptione ovato-cordata, attenuato-acuminata, 4-poU. ; segmenta lateralia bi- 

 poUicaria, petioio -f-poU., semicordata, extus fere bipartita, terminale duplo majus 

 utrinque attenuatum, omnia inciso-pinnatifida. Seapus gracilis, folia sequans ; flores 

 vix ultra 3, parvi, alterni, peduncidati. Sepala oblongo-lauceolata, acuta, semipol- 

 licaiia, fugacissima. Petala lineari-ligulata, obtusa, sepalis triplo breviora. Fol- 

 Uculi plures. 



Our description is condensed from that of WaUich, as we have not had an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing this rare plant. 



14. ISOPYRUM, L. 



Sepala 5-6, regularia, colorata. Petala unguiculata vel sessilia, 

 lamina cucullata vel planiuscula, non foveolata. FolUculi 3-30. — 

 Herbee annuce vel perennes ; foliis ternatim sectis ; floribus albis. 



The species of this genus are natives of shady woods or of mountain-roclcs in the 

 north temperate zone. The alpine species have a very peculiar habit, but the caulescent 

 ones resemble Thalictrum. 



1. I. adiantifolium (H.f. et T.) ; oaule folioso, foliis caulinis op- 

 positis, petalis longe unguiculatis, lamina parva rotundata subbiloba, 

 ovariis 3. 



Hab. In Himalayae orientalis sylvis humidissimis : Sikkim prope 

 Dorjiling, alt. 7500 ped. !— (Fl. April.) {v. v.) 



Rhizoma horizontale, squamis rotuudatis concavis tectum. Caulis erectus, 3-6- 

 pollicaris, simplex vel dichotome ramosus, basi nudus, superne foliosus. Folia radi- 

 calia longe petiolata, petiolis basi auriculatis, trisecta. Foliola longe petiolulata, 

 petiolis partialibus basi membranaceis stipeUatis, terminale indivisum, lateralia in 

 segmenta .5-7 petiolata subdichotome secta ; segmenta omnia tenuissima late cuneata 

 vel fere rotnndata, 3-4 lineas longa, antice inciso-crenata, subtus glauca. Folia 

 caulina opposita vel quaternatim verticillata, petioUs basi stipnlis membranaceis ro- 

 tundatis auriculatis, majora foliis radicalibus coaformia. Flores diametro semipoUicares. 

 Sepala ovaUa, obtusa. Petala minuta, longe unguiculata, lamina rotundata, plana 

 vel saccata, biloba vel eroso-dentata. Filamenta Wformia, petalis duplo longiora, se- 

 palis i breviora. Antherte ovales. 



