246 
POLYPETALOUS OEDERS. 
none. Stamens numerous, distinct. Carpels numerous, 1-celled, 
distinct, or united into a single, many-celled carpel. Seeds nu- 
merous, erect or pendulous ; albumen horny ; emhryo minute, 
at the base of the albumen, cordate. 
a. Properties : Plants of this order are acrid, and more or less poisonous. The 
acridity is frequently volatile, and disappears when the plants are dried or heated. 
Some are valuable as dyes, and some are beautiful as ornamental flowers. 
Genera. — Clematis, Thalictrum, Anemone, Hepatica, Hydrastis, Adonis, Myo- 
suros, Ranunculus, Caltha, TroUius, Helleborus, Coptis, Nigella, Aquilegia, Delphi 
nium, Aconitum, Actaea, Macrotrys, Cimicifuga, Xanthorhiza, Paeonia, PotJophyllum, 
Jeffersonia, Nectris. 
Fi;:;. 166, a. Ranunculus 6«/6osiis (bulbous crowfoot); 6, Pistil of Ranunculus 
repi^s; c, a perpendicular section of one of its carpels; c?, a similar section of its 
ripe *»^.hsenium. 
Fig. 166. Fig. 167. 
Fig 167, a, Aquilegia ww/^raWs (garden columbine); 6, a pistil magnified, the 
^ary divided longitudinally ; c, a seed magnified ; d, a vertical section of the same 
••howing the cordate embryo at the base of the albumen. 
Fig. 168. 
Fig. 169. 
