24 



THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. 



, Two or three exotic species are often cultivated in our perennial 

 borders. 



XIII. BANEBERRY. ACTtEA. 



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. Carpels 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. Common Baneberry. Actsea spicata, Linn. (Fig. 30.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 918. Baneberry. Herb Christopher.) 



Radical leaves large, not unlike those 

 of several Umbellifers, the stalk usually 

 twice divided into 3 or 5 pinnately ar- 

 ranged branches, the segments or leaflets 

 ovate, pointed, often 3-lobed,and coarsely 

 toothed, of a deep green, and quite gla- 

 brous. Stem 1 to 2 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 



Fig. 30. 



local, and only in northern England. Fl. May. 



XIY. PiEONY. P^ONIA. 



Large perennials, the leaves chiefly radical, with divided stalks and 

 distinct segments or leaflets, the flowers large and handsome. Sepals 

 5, herbaceous. Petals 5 or more, much larger. Stamens numerous, 

 inserted on a 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. 



