PLATE XII.- BUTTERCUP (Ranunculus) and COLUMBINE (Aquilegia). 



(Columbine after J><ii!lon). 



Buttercups are very common, but they are not on that account to be lightly passed over. The Flower shows the four sets of 

 organs very distinctly, and the pans in each are separate. The Leaves are also very instructive as showing how the much-divided 

 compound leaf gradually gets simpler and simpler as the flower is approached, until there is no difficulty in passing from them to the 

 sepals. In the White Water-lily the passage of one yf<?w/-leaf into another was shown, but no attempt was made to connect the 

 ordinary foliage-leaves with them ; in fact there is often a difficulty in doing so, especially where the leaves are compound, for you 

 invariably find the leaves of the flower to be simple. The Buttercup shows the process of simplification very beautifully, and it may 

 also be observed in the white-flowered garden Peony, belonging to the same Order as the Buttercup. 



The simple flower of the Buttercup has many contrivances worth noticing. It is of a golden colour to attract insects; it has a 

 nectary at the base of each petal to entice them into the recesses of the flower; the outer stamens shed their pollen before the inner, and 

 before the carpels are ready to receive it, in order that insects may carry the pollen from younger flowers, to those more advanced, in 

 which the carpels are mature ; and, finally, the whole flower is beautifully spread out to sun and sky, enabling it, with the help of its 

 minutely divided leaves, to get the full benefit of its surroundings. 



Buttercup. 



Flower — 



Fig. 1. Halve the expanded flower by cutting from below upwards. 



Flower-stalk expanding into Receptacle which is conical, and to which the various parts of the flower are attached. 



Sepals inserted on receptacle below carpels, soon falling off. 



Petals inserted on receptacle, with little scale at base protecting nectar from excessive evaporation. 



Stamens inserted on receptacle, and spirally arranged. 



Carpels inserted at top of conical receptacle, each with one Ovule, and spirally arranged. 



Diagram I. — Make tranverse section of Bud, just above the base, in order to cut through the various parts. Gently separate 

 the parts with dissecting needle and make out their relative position. 

 Calyx of five free Sepals, imbricate. 

 Corolla of five free Petals, imbricate. 

 Andrcecium of numerous free Stamens. 

 Gyncecium of numerous free Carpels. 



Foliage- and Floral- Leaves — 



Fig". 2. Foliage-leaves gradually passing into floral-leaves ^ 



This gradation of leaves may not all occur on one plant, so several plants should be examined. 



Fig. 3. Floral-leaves. 



Green Sepal, hairy outside. 



Coloured Petals, notched and unnotched. 



Fig. 4. Filament of Stamen continued along the back or outer face of stamen. 



Fig. 5. Carpel with small point of attachment, and consisting of swollen Ovary, short Style and hooked Stigma. 



Fig. 6. Side wall of Ovary removed, showing single Ovule in the cavity. 



Fruit and Seed — 



Fig. 7. Fruit entire and in vertical section. 



Fruit-cover or Pericarp enclosing Seed. 

 Seed consisting of — Membranous coat. 



Endosperm, white and solid. 



Embryo or rudimentary plant towards base. 



Columbine. 



The scientific name Aquilegia (Lat aqui/a, an eagle), and the common name, Columbine (Lat columba, a dove), have both reference 

 to the form of the petals, since one of the petals with a sepal on each side resembles a bird. 



Fig. 8. Section of Flower as in Fig. i. 



Flower-stalk expanded at top. 



Sepals, sometimes greenish, but usually coloured, hence called petaloid. 



Petals with spur projecting below. 



Stamens in several whorls above one another. 



Carpels inserted on top of receptacle, each with numerous Ovules. 



Diagram II. — Plan of Flower. 



Calyx of five free petaloid Sepals. 



Corolla of five free spurred Petals, alternating with the Sepals. 



Andrcecium of ten whorls of Stamens of five each, arranged in ten radiating rows. The innermost and uppermost 



ten Stamens are reduced to flattened scales, and being barren are called Staminodes. 

 Gynoecium of five free Carpels, opposite the Petals. 



Fig. 9. Fruit 



Each Carpel opens along its inner face to discharge the seeds. 



A dry fruit, consisting of a single carpel, containing a number of seeds, and opening lengthways along its inner 

 or ventral face is called a Follicle. 

 Fig. 10. a, b. Seed consisting of— Cover, which forms a projecting ridge on one side, ending in a scar or place of attachment 



Endosperm, large and fleshy. 

 Embryo towards apex, with two Cotyledons and Radicle pointing to Micropyle. 



Bane-berry. 

 Fig. 11. Inflorescence— a Raceme. 

 Fig. 12. Fruit — a Berry, containing a number of Seeds. 

 Fig. 13. Single Seed with its covering or Testa. 

 It may be remarked that in Baneberry, where the Carpels are reduced to their lowest number, viz., one, the fruit becomes an 

 attractive Berry, which is eaten by animals, and so the Seeds are deposited under the most favourable conditions. 



