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1. RANUNCULACEAB. 
Subclass I. THALAMIFLORiE. 
Stam. free or distinct from the pet., and with the latter 
inserted separately from the sep. on the summit of the 
flower- stalk ( receptacle , thalamus or torus) below the ovary 
(i. e. hypogynous). 
Order I. RANUNCULACEA3. 
The Ranunculus Family. 
Sep. 3-6, often 5, mostly deciduous. Pet. 5 or more, some- 
times peculiarly shaped, sometimes with a gland or scale inside 
at the base, rarely 0. Stam. indefinite in number, free, hypo- 
gynous : anthers adnate, bursting longitudinally mostly out- 
wards. Ov. 1-many, distinct, each with a style and 1-many 
ovules affixed to the inner suture. Fruit various, dry (achae- 
nidal or follicular), or (rarely) baccate. Carpels 1-many-seeded. 
Seeds erect or pendulous ; embryo minute in a hollow of the 
horny albumen. — Herbaceous rarely shrubby with watery acrid 
often poisonous juices. Leaves mostly much divided, with 
dilated sheathing stalks, but no true stipules. Hairs when 
present simple. 
Tribe I. RANUNCULUS. 
The Ranunculus Tribe. 
Aestivation imbricate. Pet. with a nectariferous pore at the 
base. Anthers bursting outwards ( extrorsal ). Ov. many di- 
stinct, each with one ovule. Fr. a collection of many dry 
1 -seeded acliamia. Seed erect except in Myosurus. 
1. Ranunculus. Sep. 5, rarely 3, deciduous. Pet. 5, rarely 
many ; nectariferous pore at the base of their claw either 
naked or covered bv a scale. Ach. numerous, collected 
into a globular or oblong head. 
Tribe II. HELLEBORES. 
The Hellebore Tribe. 
/Estivation imbricate. Sep. 5, rarely more, petal-like. Pet. 
irregular or peculiar in form, or 0. Anthers extrorsal. Fr. 
consisting of one or several distinct or more or less combined 
many-seeded follicles, each bursting inwards. 
2. Nigklla. Sep. 5 petal-like deciduous. Pet. 5-10 
smaller than the sepals, 2-lipped, their claw with a nec- 
tariferous pore covered with a scale. Follicles 5-10 more 
or less connate or combined into a capsule, each beaked 
with the long horn-like persistent style. 
