58 



EANUNCULACE^E. 



is often entirely dissipated in the process of drying. Occasionally, as in 

 aconite, the active principle is stored up more abundantly and permanently 

 in a tuberous root. 



Though the ranunculacese are represented in the United States by a 

 comparatively large number of genera and species, few of these have as yet 

 been found worthy a place in the Pharmacopoeia. Doubtless further care- 

 ful investigation in this field may yield important results. 



CLEMATIS. — Virgin's-Bower. 



g tails of the fruit very plumose, 

 herbaceous climber. Leaves 



Character of the Genus. — Calyx : sepals 4, rarely more, colored, petaloid, 

 the valvate margins turned inward in the bud. Corolla none, or, if 

 present, the petals small. Stamens indefinite in number, distinct. Ova- 

 ries numerous, distinct. Achenia in a head bearing the persistent styles 

 as naked, hairy, or plumose tails. 



Perennial, herbaceous or slightly woody plants, generally climbing by 

 means of their leaf-stalks ; occasionally low and erect. Leaves opposite. 

 Clem at is Vioma Linne. — Leather-Flower. 



Description. — Calyx ovate, at length bell-shaped, the purplish sepals 



very thick and ^leathery, tipped with 

 short recurved points. Corolla wanting. 

 The Ion 

 An 

 pinnate ; leaflets 3 to 7, ovate or oblong, 

 sometimes slightly cordate, 2- to 3-lobed 

 or entire ; the uppermost often simple. 

 Peduncles bearing single, large, nod- 

 ding flowers, which appear from May to 

 August. 



Habitat.— In rich soil from Pennsyl- 

 vania to Ohio and southward. 



Clematis Virgin Sana Linne. — Com- 

 mon Virgin's-Bower. 



Description. — Flowers polygamo-di- 

 cecious. Calyx: sepals small, obovate 

 spreading, white. Corolla wanting. Fruit 

 with conspicuous feathery tails. An her- 

 baceous perennial. Stem climbing and 

 running freely over shrubs, fences, etc. Leaves ternate ; leaflets ovate, 

 acute, cut or lobed, somewhat cordate at the base. Flowers in axillary 

 panicled clusters, appearing in August. 



Habitat. — On the alluvial banks of streams and along fences ; common 

 from Canada to Florida. 



IV 



1 



Fig. 96. — Clematis Virginiana. 



