12 RANUNCULACEJE. 



Banks of shady streams in mountainous districts. April and May. Per. Stems 

 clustered 1 to 3 feet high. L'acemes many flowered. Flowers purple. FeUiclcs 

 spreading % inch long. 



16. HELLEBORUS. Adans. Hellebore. 



Gr. helien, to cause death; and bora, food; on account of its poisonous properties. 



Sepals 5, persistent, mostly greenish. Petals 8 to 10, 

 very short, tubular, 2-lipped. Stamens numerous. Stigmas 

 3 to 10, orbicular. Follicles 3 to 10, slightly cohering at 

 the base, many seeded. Seeds elliptical. — Perennials, with 

 coriaceous, divided leaves, and large, nodding flowers. 



1. H. VIRIDIS. L. Green Hellebore. 



Smooth ; radical haves pedately divided. Stem leaves few, palmately parted 

 nearly sessile ; peduncles often in pairs ; sepals roundish, ovate, acute. A European 

 plant, naturalized. Stem about 1 foot high. Flowers large, pule green, appearing 

 in early spring. March and April. 



CULTIVATED EXOTICS. 



17. P^ONIA. Peony. 



Sepals 5, unequal, leafy, persistent. Petals 5. Stamens 

 numerous, mostly changed to petals by cultivation. Ovaries 

 2 to 5. Style none. Stigmas double/persistent. Follicles 

 many seeded. — Perennials with fasciculate roots; biternate 

 haves ; and large, showy-, terminal, solitary flowers. 



1. P. oiticianalis. Common Peony 



Stem erect. herbaceous: lower haves bi-pinnately divided; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, 

 variously incised. Fruit downy, nearly straight. Native of Switzerland. May 

 and June. This splendid flower has long been cultivated in every part of Europe, 

 and in this country. The double red variety is the most common. The « 

 truly beautiful. 



2. P. alhifloha. White- flowered Peony. 



Leaf nts elliptic-lanceolate, acute, entire, smooth. Follicles recurved, smooth. 

 Native of Tartary. Whole plant dark-shining-green, and smooth. Flowers white, 

 fragrant, smaller than the last. Qalyx brown, with 3 green sessile bracts at base. 

 Varieties numerous, with single and double white and rose-colored flowers. 



3. P. Moutax. Chinese Tree Peony. 



Stem shrubby ; leaflets oblong-ovate, glaucous, and somewhat hairy beneath ; 

 terminal-one 3-lobed; ovaries 5, distinct, surrounded by a very large disk. Native 

 of China. Stem 3 to 4 feet high. Leaves large, on long stalks. Flowers very 

 targe, fragrant, and always doubled in cultivation. Bisk very large. 



18. ADONIS. Linn. 

 Sepals 5, appressed. Petals 5 — 15, with naked claws. 



