14 THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. [ Aconitum. 
1, 4. Napellus, Linn. (fig. 30). Common A., Monkshood, or Wolfs. 
bane.—Stem firm and erect, 13 to 2 feet high, Leaves stalked, or the upper 
ones nearly sessile, of a dark green, glabrous or slightly downy, divided to 
the base into 5 or 7 deeply-cut, linear, pointed segments. Flowers large, 
dark blue, on erect pedicles, forming a handsome, dense, terminal raceme. 
The upper helmet-shaped sepal at first conceals the lateral ones, but is 
ultimately thrown back. Spur of the small upper petals short, conical, and 
more or less bent downwards. Carpels 3, often slightly united at the base. 
In moist pastures and thickets and waste places, in mountainous districts, 
in Europe and temperate Asia, extending northwards into Scandinavia, and 
eastwards to the Himalaya. In Britain apparently wild in some shady | 
places in western England and South Wales. 7. summer, 
Two or three exotic species are often cultivated in our perennial borders, 
XIII. ACTHA, BANEBERRY. 
Perennial herbs, with the leaves chiefly radical, their stalk divided, the 
segments or leaflets distinct. Sepals 4, small, petal-like. Petals 4, small, 
on distinct claws, Stamens numerous, as long as, or longer than the 
petals, with small anthers. Carpel solitary, becoming a berry when ripe, 
with several seeds. 
A small genus, spread over the northern hemisphere, with much of the 
general habit of Thalictrum, but differing in the presence of both sepals and 
petals, in the anthers, and fruit. 
1, A. spicata, Linn. (fig. 31). Baneberiy, Herb Christopher.—Radical 
leaves large, not unlike those of several Umbellifers, the stalk usually twice 
divided into three or 5 pinnately arranged branches, the segments or leaf- 
lets ovate, pointed, often 3-lobed, and coarsely toothed, of a deep green, and 
quite glabrous. Stem 1 to2 feet high, with few leaves, much smaller than 
the radical ones, Flowers small, nearly white, in a short, loose, oblong, 
terminal raceme: Berries small, nearly black. 
In mountain woods and pastures, in central and eastern Europe, Russian 
Asia, and northern America, extending to the Arctic circle. In Britain 
very local, and only in northern England. #7. May. 
XIV. PEONIA. PONY. 
Large perennials, the leaves chiefly radical, with divided stalks and dis- 
tinct segments or leaflets, the flowers large and handsome. Sepals 5, her- 
baceous. Petals 5 or more, much larger. Stamens numerous, inserted on 
fleshy disk. Carpels 2 to 5, each with several seeds. 
A very distinct genus, consisting of but very few species, indigenous in 
southern Europe and temperate Asia. _ 
1, P. officinalis, Linn. (fig. 32). Common P.—Rootstock emitting a 
cluster of thick tuberous roots. Stem 1 to 2 feet high. Radical leaves twice 
ternate, the segments ovate, entire or divided into two or three deep lobes. 
Flowers deep red. Carpels lange and thick, very downy, and, when ripe, 
more or less recurved. 
In hilly districts, in southern Europe and central Asia, from the Pyrenees 
to the Caucasus and Himalaya. Not indigenous to Britain, but naturalized 
in the rocky clefts of the “‘ Steep Holme ” Island, in the Severn. Fl. May 
