1. RANUNCXJLACEA3 
15 
Actaea spicata, Linn. ; FI. Br. Incl. i. 29. A perennial, more 
or less pubescent herb. Stems 2-3 ft., erect, usually branched. 
Leaves 6-12 in., alternate, pinnately compound, the pinnules often 
with 3 leaflets ; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, pointed, often lobed, deeply 
and sharply toothed. Flowers regular, scarcely J in. diam., 
white, crowded in short terminal racemes lengthening in fruit. 
Sepals 4, petal-like, concave, soon falling off. Petals 4, shorter 
than the sepals, clawed. Stamens numerous, longer than the 
sepals, anthers small. Ovary solitary, many-ovuled, stigma 
sessile, flat. Fruit a black, ovoid, glabrous berry, containing 
numerous small seeds. g ( ; 
Narkunda in forest ; June. — Temperate Himalaya,, 6000-10,000 ft. — N. Asia, 
N. America, Europe (Britain, Baneberry). 
11. CIMICIFUGA. From the Latin cimex, a bug, and fugare, 
to drive away. — Europe, N. Asia, N. America. 
Cimicifuga fcetida, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. i, 30. A perennial, 
more or less pubescent herb. Stems 3-6 ft., erect, leafy, branched. 
Leaves 6-18 in., pinnately compound ; leaflets 1-3 in., rarely more, 
ovate or lanceolate, deeply and sharply toothed, terminal leaflet 3- 
lobed. Flowers nearly regular, hardly J in. diam., white, crowded 
in short or long racemes, solitary in the axils of the upper leaves, 
and combined in a terminal, sometimes large and spreading, 
panicle. Sepals and petals 5-7 (no clear distinction between them), 
imbricate, ovate, concave; one or two of the inner ones deeply 
2-lobed, the tips white, broad, notched. Stamens numerous, ulti- 
mately longer than the sepals. Ovaries 2-5, rarely more, many- 
ovuled, style short, stigma pointed. Follicles \ in. long, flat, 
tipped with the persistent styles. Seeds 6-8. 
Patarnala in forest, and probably Baghi ; September. — Temperate 
Himalaya, 7000-12,000 ft. — E. Europe, Siberia. 
12. PiEONIA. The Greek name. — N. temperate regions 
(Britain, Pseony). 
*P8eonia Emodi, Wall . ; FI. Br. Lid. i. 30. A glabrous, perennial 
herb. Stems 1-2 ft., leafy, erect. Leaves alternate, 6-12 in. long ; 
leaflets 3, usually 3-parted, segments lanceolate, pointed, entire. 
Flowers few, showy, 3-4 in. across, long-stalked, usually solitary 
in the axils of the upper leaves. Buds globose. Sepals 5, orbi- 
cular, concave, green, persistent, the outer ones ending in a leaf- 
like point. Petals 5-10, broadly ovate, concave, red or white. 
Stamens many. Ovaries 1-3, densely hairy, many-ovuled, seated 
on a fleshy disk ; style short, broad, recurved. Follicles ovoid, 1 in. 
Seeds few, large. 
Kumaon, Hazara; May, June. — W. Himalaya, 5000-10,000 ft. 
