188 I. EANUNCULACE^. 



ample, pinnatisect or decompound. Mowers conspicuous, purplish, white, or red. Europe, 

 Asia. 



RanunctdacecB approach Dilleniacece in the distinct imbricate sepals, polypetalism, hypogyny, polyandry, 

 adnate anthers, distinct carpels, anatropous ovules, capsular or follicular fruit, erect albuminous seed, 

 minute basilar embrj'O, and terminal inflorescence. Dtlteniaceee only differ in habit, persistent sepals, and 

 especially in having arillate seeds. Magnoliacea offer the same analogies and differences ; and are also 

 distinguished by their habit and their many-seriate petals. Serberidece have, like Manuncnlaccts, distinct 

 sepals and petals, often nectariferous, adnate anthers, one or more free carpels, and albuminous seed ; but 

 their flower is iso- or diplo-stemonous, their anthers open by valves, and their embryo is axile and not 

 basilar. Papaveracets differ in their syncarpous pistil, 2-merous flower and milky juice. Similar 

 relations exist with NymplueacecB, which further differ in their habit, 1-flowered scape, many-seriate 

 petals, largely dilated filaments, rayed stigma, and arillate seeds. Finally, some affinity has been discovered 

 with SarrcKcniece, .which are distinguished by their peltate and petaloid stigma, their radical leaves with 

 tubular petiole, undeveloped blade, and 1-flowered scape. Rammoulaeea are universally distributed, 

 but most inhabit temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere ; as throughout Europe, from the 

 sea^shove to the limit of perpetual snow. They are rarer in North America and temperate Asia. Clematis 

 alone is tropical, and is distinguished from all the other genera by its sarm entose habit and opposite leaves. 

 Few Ranunculi inhabit the high mountains of the equator. Ranunculus, Caltlia, and Clematis occm- nearly 

 everywhere. Adonis, Ceratocej)haltts, Erantlm, Helleburus, Qandella, Niyelln, Pcsonia, &c., belong exclu- 

 .sively to the Old World ; Cyrtorhyncha, Hydrastis, Trantvettena, JBotroplm, and Xanthorhiza are their 

 New World representatives. Knowltonia inhabits South Africa, Hamadiyas extra-tropical South America, 

 and Naravelia tropical Asia ; the other genera are dispersed over the northern hemisphere. 



Most Ranunculacea are acrid, and more or less poisonous; but these properties are volatile, and 

 driven off by cooking and drying ; except in some cases, where they are alkaline, and consequently more 

 fixed and powerful. Their roots, when perennial, contain, besides the acrid, a bitter extractive principle, 

 contained in various proportions, with a volatile oil, which renders them drastic and emetic. Their seeds 

 are acrid ; some contain both a fixed and a volatile oil, and are aromatic. Clematis ej-ecta, Vitalba and 

 Flammuki, are very acrid and vesicant. The juice of the leaves of O. Vitalba is used by beggars to 

 produce superficial sores and thus excite pity. C. cirrhosa from th-e Mediterranean region, C. crispa from 

 North America, and C. matiritiana from Madagascar, replace cantharides in those countries. The numeroirs 

 Ranunculi are often popularly used as vesicants ; the most acrid are R. Thora, an alpine plant, and 

 R. sceleratus, named by the Romans Sardonia, because it excites convulsive sardonic laughter: slow 

 cooking dissipates its poisonous properties, and renders it eatable as a potherb. So it is with Clematis Flam- 

 imda, one of the most acrid species, the young shoots of which may be eaten without danger. Ranunculus 

 Ficaria, a common plant in damp hedges and woods, is very aerid before flowering, but the mucilage and 

 starch which are developed later render it eatable. R. al^wstris is a vesicant and strong puroative : yet 

 the Alpine hunters chew its leaves to keep off giddiness and to strengthen them. 



Anemones are equally vesicant. A. nemorosa is used as such in some parts of Europe, and A. helle- 

 borifolia replaces cantharides among the Peruvians ; as does Knowltonia, of South Africa. The Italians 

 prepare a rubefacient water with A. apennina, which the ladies are said to use to heighten their com- 

 plexion. A. ranunculoides, a common northern species, is so acrid that the Kamtschatkans poison their 

 arrows with it. A. Pulsatilla is the richest in medical properties : though nearly inodorous, yet if bruised, 

 it emits a vapour that violently iil-itates the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and back of the mouth, 

 owing to the presence of a volatile acid, an alkali named anemmiine, and a volatile oil. In'a fresh state it 

 is used in paralysis, especially of the retina, in rheumatism, and in obstinate cutaneous diseases. 



Thalictmm Jlavum, 'rhubarbe des pauvres,' is administered in jaundice and intermittent fevers. 

 T. CuTOMiJ is regarded in North America as a powerful alexipharmic. Delphinium Consolida, Larkspur, is 

 aperient, diuretic and vermifuge ; the seeds of D. Staphisagria are drastic, emetic, and employed exter- 

 nally in a powder to destroy lice, and in skin diseases. The seeds of the Nigellee are slightly acrid and 

 aromatic; they are used in the South of Europe jind in the East to flavour bread. Coptis trifoliata is a sub- 

 arctic plant of both worlds, renowned for its stomachic properties ; it yields a yellow colouring principle. 

 The root of C. Teota is much celebrated in India and China as a powerful stimulant of the digestive 

 organs. Hydrastis canadensis yields both a dye and a tonic medicine. 



