4 DICOTYLKDONOUS. 



very showy, varying in color throug-h the series from blue to red, but of our own sp« 

 cies, HO care has been taken for their improveraenl by cultivation, which tfould 

 richly repay the Florist's care- 



Gents IV. HEPATICA. 



Involucrum S-leaved, resembling a calyx, near the flower. 

 Sepals petaloid 6 to 9, arranged in 2 or 3 rows. Petals none. 

 Achenia numerous, without tails. 



1. H. Triloba. Zeares cordate, 3-lobed, entire, thick, coriaceous. Scape, 

 petioles and involucrum villous. 



Rose colored. ^2- Common. Feb. Liverwort. 5 in. 



Remarks.— Th\3 plant has enjoyed great celebrity, both in this country and Europe. 

 It has been deemed almost a specific in hepatic or liver affections, and, not many years 

 since, was highly extolled as a certain cure for chronic coughs. It is a mild tonic and 

 astringent, and may be taken in any quantities, by infusion in water. 



Genus V. HYDRASTIS. 



Sepals Si ovate, petaloid. Petals none* Stamens and ova- 

 ries numerous. Carpels berry-like, in a globose head ; 1, and 

 rarely 2- seeded. 



1. H; Canadensis. Boot yellow and bitter. Stem simple, 2-leaved. 

 Leaves alternate, cordate, palmate, acutely serrate, lower leaf petioled, upper 

 subsessile, glabrous. Flowers solitary, terminal. 



Rose color. %. Mountains. April, May. 6-8 in. 



Orange root. Turmeric root. 



Genus VI. RANUNCULUS. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, with a scale on the inside of the base 

 of the petals. Stamens generally numerous. Achenia ovate, 

 pointed, compressed, smooth, striated or tuberculated, arranged 

 in a cylindric or globose head. 



1. R. Aquatilis. »S^ewfloating,lons:, slender, jointed. Zeaues submersed, 

 capillary, alternate, petioled. Calyx glabrous. Petals white, claw yellow, 

 with a conspicuous pore. Achenia transversely wrinkled. 



T^. June to Aug. Ponds and streams. Car. and Ga. 



(a.) Leaves undivided, flowers yellow, carpels smooth. 



2. R. Laxicaulis. Stem weak, much branched, declined, rooting at the 

 lower joints, glabrous. Leaves smooth, linear, lanceolate or eliptical, oblong, 

 upper ones hnear; peduncles opposite the leaves, 1 to 2 inches long. Car- 

 pels with a subulate beak, in a globular head. Petals much longer than the 

 calyx, slender at the base- 

 ly. Ditches. Car. and Geo. July. 



3. R. PusiLLUs. Stem decumbent, little branched, glabrous. Leaves on 

 long petioles, entire or denticulate, obtuse, lower ones ovate or subcordate, 

 upper ones hnear lanceolate. Peduncles opposite the leaves, one flowered. 

 Sepals ovale, obtuse. Flowers small. Petals small, nearly round. Pore at 

 the base of the limb of the petal. Stamens few. Styles none. Achinia ovate. 



Yellow. Pj. Very common in wet soils. March. 



(b.) Leaves divided. 



4. R. Abortivus. Stem glabrous, simple or branching. Radical leaves 



1 



