ORDER I. RANUNCULACE^). 209 



The C. raeemosa has Ion? been used in medicine; in families as a remedy for 

 rheumatism, dropsy, hysteria, and affections of the lungs; and by physicians with 

 decided success in cases of chorea, 8t Vitus' dance. The decoction of the root is tho 

 form in which it is usually administered. 



Genus XIV.— TRAUTVETTE'RIA. F. & M. 12—12. 

 (In honor of Trautvetter, a German botanist.) 



Perianth 4 — 5-leaved, leaves equal, orbiculate. Stamens 

 numerous. Anthers introrse. Capsules 15 — 20, membrana- 

 ceous and indehiscent, 3-earinate, 1 -seeded, tipped with a very 

 short hooked style, seed erect. Perennial herbs. Leaves pal- 

 in ately lobed. Stem simple, or branching above. Inflo- 

 rescence eymose. 



1. T. Palma'ta, (F. & M.) Leaves slightly coriaceous with conspicu- 

 ous reticulated veins. Cymes mostly compound. Torrey & Gray.— 

 Mountains, X. C. July and Aug. 2 — 3 feet. 



Genus XV.— THALIC'TRUM. L. 12—12. (Meadow-rue.) 

 (Supposed to be from the Greek thallo, to be green.) 



Sepals and Petals confounded. Perianth 4 — 5-leaved. 

 Stamens numerous, very long. Anthers innate. Carpels 4 

 — 15, without tails, striate. Flowers in corymbs or panicles. 

 Often dioecious or polygamous. 



1. T. cornu'ti, (L.) Stem slender, erect, glabrous. Leaves ternately 

 decompound ; leaflets roundish, obovate, or elliptical, 3dobed or entire, 

 glaucous beneath, slightly rugose on the upper surface, margin revolute 

 when old. (The leaves of this species vary from the common type in 

 almost every respect.) Panicle terminal, compound. Sepals oblong, 

 small. Filaments clavate. Anthers oblong, pointed. Carpels glabrous. 

 — White, b . Can. to Geo. June — August. 



2. T. dioi'cum, (L.) Stem herbaceous, glabrous. Leaves generally 

 triternate on short petioles; leaflets rounded, crenately and obtusely 

 lobed, glaucous beneath. Flowers dicecious. Filaments filiform. An- 

 ther* linear, mueronate. Carpels strongly striate, sessile, oblong. 



Var. Siipitatum. Compels stipitate. — White. ~b. . May to July. 

 Mountains. 



3. T. anemonoi'des, (Mich.) Stem 6 — 10 inches high, in bunches. 

 Leaves radical and cauline; radical ones on long petioles; biternate, 

 cauline ones verticillate, trifoliate, sessile ; leaflets roundish, petiolale, 

 obtusely 3 — 5-lobed. Sepal* 6 — 10, elliptical. Ovaries 6 — 10 ; stigma 

 sessile, simple. — White 4 — 8 in. Mar. Ap. Mountains. Rue Ancinone. 



4. T. fil'ipes. Stem smooth. Leaves thin, biternate ; leaflets round- 

 i-h. 3 — 54ob sd, Flower* in a loose corymbose panicle. Carpel* com- 



iate. — X. Ca. 2 feet. 



Th • Thaiictrums are easy of cultivation, and quite ornamental, from their bright 

 preen and decompound leaves and delicate flowers. They possess, in a slight decree, 

 the acrid properties characteristic of the order, but are applied to no use except orna- 

 ment 



