THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. 



whether 

 the base 



leaflets much fewer than in the lesser 

 T., but larger, being often an inch in 

 length, obovate or wedge-shaped at the 

 base. Panicle compact and rather corym- 

 bose. Pedicels short and erect even be- 

 fore the flower expands. Flowers, es- 

 pecially the stamens, decidedly yellow." 

 In moist meadows, and along ditches, 

 in Europe and Russian Asia, scarcely 

 extending so far north as the lesser T. 

 Found in England, Ireland, and south- 

 ern Scotland, but not very common. Fl. 

 summer. Here again some botanists dis- 

 tinguish several species, according as the 

 rootstock is more or less creeping, or 



sessile leaflets resembling stipules are or are not formed at 



of the branches of the petiole. 



Fig. 4 



III. ANEMONE. ANEMONE. 



Rootstock perennial. Leaves radical. Flower-stem naked, except- 

 ing an involucre of three leaves usually at a considerable distance 

 from the flowers. Sepals 5 or more, frequently 6, coloured and 

 petal-like, longer than the stamens. No petals. Stamens numerous. 

 Carpels numerous, one-seeded, pointed or ending in a long feathery 

 awn. 



A large genus, found in almost all temperate regions of the globe, 

 chiefly characterized by the three leaves placed in a whorl, from half- 

 way up the flowering stem to very near the flowers, according to the 

 species. When much divided, these leaves may appear at first sight to 

 be more numerous, but they always form a single whorl, and when 

 closely examined they will always be found united at the base into 

 three. 



Flowers purple, silky outside. Carpels ending in feathery 



awns 1. Pasque A. 



Flowers white or pink, glabrous. Carpels ending in a 



point 2. Wood A. 



Several species from continental or southern Europe are cultivated 

 in our gardens, especially the A. pratensis, the llepatica (A. Hepatica), 

 which has the involucre so close to the flower as to assume the appear- 

 ance of a calyx. Two other South European species, the Apennine A. 



