1. EANUNCULACEiE. O 



Asia, and at considerable elevations in the great mountain- chains of 

 central and southern Europe and central Asia. Abundant in the High- 

 lands of Scotland; more local in Ireland, in northern England, and 

 North "Wales. Fl. summer. 



2. Lesser Thalictrum. Thalictrum minus, Linn. (Eig. 3.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 11. T. majus, Eng. Bot. t. 611, and T. flexuosum, 

 Bab. Man.) 



A very variable species ; in dry lime- 

 stone soils often not more than a foot 

 high, of a glaucous hue, or slightly 

 downy ; in moist, rich situations (where 

 however it is seldom found) it is much 

 larger and greener, but readily distin- 

 guished from the following species by 

 its loose panicle occupying a great part 

 of its height ; the pedicels also are as 

 long as or longer than the flower, and re- 

 curved at least before the flower is ex- 

 panded, although they become erect as 

 the fruit ripens. Stem usually in zigzag, making a bend at every 

 node. Petioles, especially of the lower and root-leaves, three or four 

 times divided, with very numerous, small leaflets, roundish or broadly 

 wedge-shaped, trifid and toothed. Elowers usually of a pale greenish- 

 yellow, with a pink tinge on the sepals. Stamens numerous, with long, 

 narrow anthers. Carpels from 3 to 5 or 6, very acute and strongly 

 furrowed. 



In dry situations, chiefly in limestone countries, throughout Europe 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Scattered over Britain, 

 chiefly in Scotland and north-western England, but not common. Fl. 

 summer. Several varieties, distinguished by size, colour, pubescence, 

 luxuriance of foliage, etc., or by the lower leaves being fully developed 

 or reduced to mere sheaths, have been described as species by Conti- 

 nental botanists ; and three or four of these forms have been men- 

 tioned as British, but their characters are exceedingly vague and un- 

 certain. 



Fig. 3. 



3. Yellow Thalictrum. Thalictrum flavum, Linn. (Eig. 4.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 367. Meadow Rue.) 



The largest of the British species, being generally from 2 to 3 feet 

 in height and of a deeper green than the last. Stem stout and fur- 

 rowed. Leaves large, the stalks two or three times divided, the 



