8 



THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. 



except in the extreme north. Abundant in Great Britain. Fl. early 

 spring. 



IV. ADONIS. ADONIS. 



Characters those of Ranunculus, except that the petals have no nec- 

 tary, although they are often more deeply coloured at the base, and 

 that the seed is suspended, not erect, in the carpel. 



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

 and have mostly red or straw-coloured flowers. 



1. Common Adonis. Adonis autumnalis, Linn. (Fig. 7.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 308. Pheasant's Eye) 



An erect annual, from 8 inches to a 

 foot or rather more, glabrous or slightly 

 downy. Leaves finely divided into nu- 

 merous 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 

 considerably and becomes cylindrical as 

 the fruit ripens. 



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. 



Fig. 7. 



Y. MOUSETAIL. MYOSURUS. 



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

 tubular claws. Stamens few. Carpels small, one-seeded, very nume- 

 rous, arranged in a long and dense cylindrical spike. Ovule attached 

 near the top of the cell. 



A genus containing besides the European species but one other one 

 from western America, and chiefly distinguished from the small-flowered 

 Ranunculuses by the tubular claw of the petals, and from most of that 

 genus by the attachment of the ovule. 



