Z THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. 



jority of Itanunculacece are easily distinguished by their numerous, 

 free, hypogynous stamens, and by their distinct carpels. Where, as in 

 Mousetail, the stamens are few, the carpels are numerous ; and, on the 

 other hand, if in Actcea and some Larkspurs the carpels are solitary, 

 they are unilateral, with the ovules attached to one side or angle of 

 their single cell, showing that they are simple, not composed of the 

 union of several, as is the case with the central ovaries of the Poppy 

 and Cistus families, which have either several cells or several rows of 

 ovules. Another very distant Order, which may at first sight be con- 

 founded with the present one, is that of the Alismas, among Monoco- 

 tyledons: but besides the microscopical character derived from the 

 embryo, there are but three petals and sepals, as in most other Mono- 

 cotyledons, a rare circumstance in the Ranunculus family. 



Ranuncu lacece are widely diffused over the globe, but more especially 

 in temperate or cool climates. Within the tropics they are, with the 

 exception of Clematis, almost confined to high mountain-ranges. Most 

 of the principal genera are represented in our Flora. 



Climber with opposite leaves. Carpels one-seeded. Sepals 



coloured 1. Clematis. 



Herbs with alternate or radical leaves, rarely opposite on 

 runners. 

 Carpels several or numerous, short, one-seeded. Flowers 

 always regular. 

 Sepals 4, 5, or more, often coloured and petal-like, 

 but no real petals. 

 An involucre of three leaves outside the flower or 



on the stalk 3. Anemone. 



No involucre. Floral leaves alternate. Stamens 



longer than the sepals 2. Thalictrum. 



Petals 5 or more, usually more conspicuous than the 

 sepals. 

 Carpels very numerous, in a long, cylindrical column. 



Petals very small, with a tubular claw ... 5. Mousetail. 

 Carpels in a globose or oblong head. Petals flat. 

 Petals (usually yellow or white) with a little scale, 

 or a thickened hollow spot at the base of 



each 6. Ranunculus. 



Petals (usually red) without any scale or thickened 



spot at the base 4. Adonis. 



Carpels several, each with several seeds. 

 Flowers very irregular or spurred. 



Upper sepal helmet-shaped, without a spur . . . 12. Aconite. 

 Upper sepal with a long spur at the base .... 11. Larkspur. 

 Sepals flat and regular. Petals with a spur at the 



base of each 10, Columbine. 



Flowers regular. 



