RANUNCULACE<E. 



Calyx of 3 to 15, (usually 5) distinct, mostly deciduous, sepals. Co.iolla, Petals 

 3 to 15 (sometimes irregular or absent.) hypogynous. Stamens indefinite in num- 

 ber, distinct, rarely few, hypogynous. Pistlis numerous. Fruit, either dry pod*, 

 or seedlike achenia, or berries, 1 to several seeded. Ss.eds solitary or several, ana- 

 tropous, with a minute embryo and fleshy albumen. 



1. CLEMATIS. Linn. Virgin's Bower. 



Gr. lluma, a tendril ; climbing by tendrils, or twining petioles. 



Calyx 4 (rarely 5 to 8) sepaled, colored, pubescent. Pe- 

 tals none, or shorter than the sepals. Filaments numer- 

 ous. Anthers linear. Achenia numerous, in a head, 

 bearing the persistent styles in the form of long plumose 

 tails. — Perennial vines climbing by the leafstalk ; stems some- 

 what woody', leaves mostly compound and opposite. 



1. C. Virginiana, L. Common Virgin's Bower. 



S'.c:n eimbing; leaves ternate; Ictflt; cordate, ovate, acut?, coarsely toothed or 

 lobed: flowers often dioecious, paniculate 



A common hardy climber in hedg s and thickets, flowering in July and August. 

 Flowers white, numerous, borne in panicles on axillary peduncles. Sepals 4, oval, 



oblong, obtuse. Fruit furnished w.th long plumose leathery tails. 



2. C. Viorna, L. Leather Flower. 



Stem climbing; 7<m-6$pinuately divided; segments entire, orS-lobed, ovate, acuto; 

 floral ones entire. Gti&yx companuiate: sepaU very thick and leathery, acuminate, 

 connirent, reflexed at the apex. 



Woods : June, July. Stem 10 to 15 feet in length, cylindrical, pubescent, purple, 

 finally shrubby. Leaves oppcsit\ pinna* ly decompound, consisting of 9 — 12 leaf- 

 let-. Flowers axillary, purple, nodding, on peduncles C — 6 inches long, with a pair 

 of small, simple, entire leaves near the middle. Fruit with very plumose tails, 

 from 1 — 2 inches long. 



AtkaotWB, DC. Involucre none : Sepals 4 : petals several, minute. 



3. C. YERTlClLLARis. DC IVhorl-kaved Virgin's Bower. 



Stem climbing by the leafstalks; Leivcs in fours, ternate ; Leaflet; stalked, 

 ovate, jointed. entire or a little toothed, sometimes slightly heart-shaped ; Peduncles 

 1-flowereJ : Sepals very large, acute. 



A handsome climber in highland wools and rocky hills, rare, sometimes cultiva- 

 ted. May. June. Stem areending trees in — 15 feet by means of its twisting petioles. 

 From each of the opposite buds in spring there ari^e two ternate leaves with long, 

 Btalked Le rjtets, and a relunelc which bears a bluish-purple flower. Sepals thick 1 

 inch or more long and nearly }4 w ile. Fljm??its about 21, outer ones (petals) 

 dilated, spatulate, tipped with imperfect anthers. 



2. ANEMONE. Linn. Wind flower. 



Or. atiemos, wind ; because the flowers are supposed to open when the wind blows. 



Sepals 5 to 15, petal-like, colored. Petals none. Sta- 

 mens numerous, much shorter than the sepals. Ovaries 

 many, free, collected into a roundish or oval head. Invo- 

 lucre remote from the flower, of 3 divided leaves. Ache- 



