CP.O^VFOOT FAMILY. 



27 



L H. tl'i'loba, Ckaix. Leaves broadly lieart-sliapc3, or someTvLat 

 kidney-shaped, with 3 obtuse lobes ; sepals blue or purplish. 



Three-Lobed Hepatica. Liverwort. Liverleaf. 



Leaves on petioles 3-5 inches long. Scapes several, 4- 6 inches long, silky-viUous. in- 

 volucre villous externally. 

 Open woodlands ; common. April. 



Obs. One of the earliest flowers of spring, blooming in rocky woods 

 as soon as the snow disappears. The leaves remain through the 

 winter, and when old are purplish below. A variety, or what is by 

 some considered a species [H.acutiloha, DC), has very acute lobes to the 

 leaves. This plant, which has no especial interest to the agriculturist, 

 is noticed on account of some popular reputation it has as a remedy. 

 It forms a slightly astringent mucilaginous infusion, which is used by 

 the " herb doctors'" in diseases of the lungs, in which it is probably as 

 harmless as any other warm drink. ^• 



2. THALIC'TEUM, L. Meadow-rue. 



[A name of obscure derivation.] 



Often dicEcwm or polygamous. Sepals 4-5, petal-like, soon falling. 

 Petals none. Akenes 4:- 15, rihhrd or grooved, pointed by the short 

 style. Perennial herbs, with 2-3 ternately compound leaves and corym- 

 bose or paniculate flowers. 



1. T. Cornu'ti, L. Dioecious nr polygamous ; leaves ternately decom- 

 pound, divided to the base ; th.Qiie of the ctem without common petioles ; 

 leaflets 3-lobed at the apex, ji^xaucous and more or less pubescent ; 

 flowers white, in loose compoiv/U panicles. 



CoRXUTUs's Thalictrtjm. M^'idow-rue. 



stem 3-5 feet high, rather sto **, /:/anching, furrowed and hollow. 



Ohs. This is very cott/Ou in wet meadows and along -ivulet?, where 

 its showy white flower^, are likely to attract the notice of the farmer. 

 It can hardly be cons^^J'xed a troublesome plant. * 



3. EAN*' xrCULUS, i. Buttercup. Crowfoot. 



[Latin, Rana, a 'rog ; the plant often growing where that animal is found.] 



Sepals 5. Petal' ^, -^rith a scale or pit on the inside, at the base. Sta- 

 mens mostly ruEierous. Akenes numerous, compressed, ovate, pointed, 

 'disposed in "Oundish or cylindrical heads. Annual or perennial herbs, 

 with ixK)s+iy radical leaves, and solitary or somewhat corymbed mostly 

 yey^-/ir lowers. 



