O DICOTYLEDONOUS. 



ing, succulent, pilose. Leaves glabrous, petioled, sometimes entire, some- 

 times 3-cleft even to the base, lobes toothed, floral ones oblong or lanceolate, 

 entire, lower ones slightly cordate, shining, toothed. Fe'Jtmcles opposite the 

 leaves, about 1 inch long. Petals obovate, longer than the calyx. Sepals 

 reflected, lanceolate. Carpels with a thick margm, tuberculate, aculeate, with 

 a straight or slightly hooked beak. 



#. In cultivated land. March to May. 



14. R. Parviflorus. Stem erect or slightly decumbent, 12 to 15 inches 

 high, slender, villous. Leaves orbicular, 3-lobed or ternate, notched, pubes- 

 cent. Peduncles opposite the leaves, short. Flowers small. Petals 3 to 5, 

 equal to the sepals. Sepals reflexed. Carpels with thin margin, tubercled, 

 with a hooked point. 

 May. 



Remarks.— The Ranunculi are distinguished for an exceedingly acrid juice, which is 

 so volatile that drying or infusion in water, renders plants, which otherwise act as a 

 powerful epispastics, perfectly inert. Some of these plants have been used lor drawing 

 blisters, and for the want of the Spanish flies, may be used with advantage, although, 

 from their powerful action, should be used with care. The R. Sceleratus will produce 

 a blister in au hour and a half. 



Genus VII. CALTHA. 



Calyx colored. Sepals 6 to 9, resembling petals. Petals 

 none. Stamens numerous. Follicles numerous, compressed, 

 many-seeded. 



1. C. FiCARioiDES. Stem erect, 1-flowered, 1-leaved, radical. Leaves pe- 

 tioled, cordate-ovate, obtuse, sparingly toothed, many nerved. Sepals eliptic. 

 Yellow. \i- 8 to 12 in. Swamps. Cowslip. 



Remarks. — The Caltha possesses the same acrid pi'operties as the Ranunculus, but 

 by boiling is rendered harmless, and is prepared for food in early Spring. 



Geotjs VIII. AQUILEGIA. 



Sepals 5.deciduous, colored. Petals 5, somewhat bilabiate, 

 each petal being produced into a spur, projecting between the 

 sepals. Capsules 5, many-seeded, terminated by a style. 



1. A. Canadensis. Stem 12 to 18 inches high. Leaves on long 3-cleft foot- 

 stalks, ternate and biternate, leaflets lobed and crenate, glaucous. Flowers 

 pendulous, spurs straight, stamens exsert, numerous, disposed in several 

 parcels. 



Scarlet, tinged with yellow. ^. Mountains. May. 



Remarks.— kOi}x\\egm aff jrds beautiful ornaments for the Flower gardens, and as 

 such, several speciesare cultivated. 



Genus IX. DELPHINUM. 



Sepals 5, deciduous, irregular, petaloid, the upper one pro- 

 duced downward into a long spur. Petals 4, irregular, two 

 upper ones horned. Capsules mostly 3, many-seeded. Flow- 

 evi in terminal racemes. 



1. D. CoNSOLiDA. Stem erect, divaricately branched, glabrous. Leaves 



f (etiolate, palmately divided. Flowers few, in a loose raceme. Pedicels 

 onger than the bracts. Carpels smooth. 

 Blue. N. Car. and Vir. Introduced. 



