Anemone.] I. RANUNCULACEJE. 6 



Flowerstalk 5 to 8 inches high, with the involucre at first near the 

 flower, but becoming more remote as the fruit ripens, its 3 sessile 

 leaves deeply cut into linear segments. Flower solitary, large, with 6 

 sepals of a dull violet -purple, very silky outside. Awns of the carpels 

 long and feathery, like those of a Clematis. 



In open limestone pastures, in the greater part of Europe and Russian 

 Asia, but not very far northwards. Occurs in several parts of England, 

 but not in Wales, Scotland, or Ireland. Fl. spring. 

 . 2. A. nemorosa, Linn. (fig. 6). Wood A. — Rootstock black and 

 horizontal, emitting from its extremity 2 or 3 leaves and a single 

 flowerstalk, all glabrous or but slightly downy. Leafstalks long, with 

 3 ovate or lanceolate leaflets, toothed or lobed, or often divided al- 

 most to the base into 3 similarly shaped segments. Peduncle 3 to 6 

 or 8 inches high, the involucral leaves at about two-thirds of its height, 

 like the radical ones, but smaller, with shorter stalks. Sepals 6, white 

 bluish or reddish outside, and perfectly glabrous. Carpels downy, 

 with a point nearly as long as themselves, but not feathery. 



Common in and near woods, throughout Europe and North-west Asia 

 and North America. Abundant in Britain. Fl. early spring. 



IV. ADONIS. ADONIS. 



Annual, or, in foreign species, perennial herbs. Leaves divided. 

 Flowers red or straw-coloured. Sepals 5. Petals 5 or more ; sometimes 

 more deeply coloured at the base, but without the nectary of Ranunculus. 

 Stamens usually numerous. Carpels numerous, without awns, in a 

 globular or oblong head each containing a single pendulous ovule. 



The species are few, chiefly from southern Europe and western Asia. 



1. A. autumnalis, Linn. (fig. 7). Pheasant' s Eye. — An erect annual,- 

 from 8 to 12 inches, or more, glabrous or slightly downy. Leaves 

 finely divided into numerous narrow linear segments. Sepals green or 

 slightly coloured. Petals 5 to 8, rather longer than the calyx, of a 

 bright scarlet, with a dark spot at the base, Carpels numerous, and 

 rather large, arranged in a head at first ovate or oblong, but which 

 often lengthens and becomes cylindrical. 



In cornfields, in central and southern Europe and western Asia. Not 

 very common in Britain, but appears occasionally, especially in the 

 warmer counties of ^England and Ireland, and sometimes in Scotland. 

 Fl. summer and early autumn. A variety with larger flowers was 

 formerly much cultivated in flower-gardens under the name of Flos 

 Adonis, 



V. MYOSURUS. MOUSETAIL. 



Annuals with entire leaves. Sepals 5. Petals 5, small, linear, with 

 tubular claws. Stamens few. Carpels small, 1 -seeded, very numerous, 

 arranged in a long and dense cylindrical spike. Ovule attached near 

 the top of the cell. 



A genus containing one European and one western America species 

 chiefly distinguished from the small-flowered Ranunculuses by the 

 tubular claw of the petals, by the attachment of the ovule. 



1. M. minimus, Linn. (fig. 8). Common Mousetail. — A small annual 

 with linear radical leaves, 1 to 3 inches, including their long footstalk. 



