RANUNCULALES 
95 
The diverging lines of development in this order are well exhibited in Engler’s suborders of the group. The numerous 
stamens of, for example, the Dilleniaceae and the Cistaceae , may well be primitive, and probably indicate a common ancestry 
with the Ranunculales . In the more specialised (non-British) families gamopetaly and epigyny occur. 
An allied order is the Cactales (or Opuntiales ) which is not represented in the British flora, though visitors to the 
Riviera must all have noticed the naturalised Opuntias in the hedgerows there. It is the only order of the Heterochlamydeae 
(as at present limited) not represented in the British flora. 
The group might well be designated the Hypericarieae , and should probably be placed nearer the Ranunculales and Papaverales. 
({) Orders with cyclic flowers and with prevailing hemi-epi^yny or epigyny due to the hollowing of the axis and the 
union of the gynoecium and the axis , and with prevailing syncarpy 
Order io. Myrtales (or Myrtiflorae). \Stem often with bicollateral vascular bundles.] Recep- 
tacle concave. Flowers cyclic, heterochlamydeous or rarely monochlamydeous by reduction, usually 
actinomorphic, haplostemonous or diplostemonous. Gynoecium syncarpous, usually united to the axis. 
Order n. Apiales (or Umbelliflorae or Umbellales). Inflorescence usually an umbel, which 
may be simple or compound. Flowers cyclic, heterochlamydeous, tetramerous or pentamerous, 
usually haplostemonous, epigynous. Carpels 5 — 1, syncarpous, each with 1 (or rarely 2) ovules. 
Ovules pendulous, anatropous ; integument 1 ; endosperm copious. 
This group of orders — which may be designated the Myrtariae — is well placed at the end of the Heterochlamydeae , as it 
is without doubt the most specialised. The specialised characters are the tetracyclic flowers, the cyclic stamens, the perigyny 
and epigyny. Indeed, the group is in some ways more highly specialised than some orders of the Metachlamydeae (or 
Gamopetalae), namely, the Ericales and the Primulales. In particular, the specialised characters are well displayed by the 
Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae). The group is closely related to the epigynous orders of the Metachlamydeae (or Gamopetalae ), 
especially to the Rubiales; and this indeed is one of the major relationships which is well exhibited in de Candolle’s and 
Bentham and Hooker’s system of classification. However, the relationship to the preceding groups of orders is not clear. 
Order 1. RANUNCULALES 
Ranunculales nobis; Ranales Lindley Nat. Syst. ed. 2, 4 (1836) incl. Berberales\ Bentham and Hooker 
Gen. PI. i, p. vi (1862); Engler Pflanzenfam. Nachtr. 347 (1897); Carter Gen. Brit. Plants 45 (1913). 
For characters, see page 93. 
British families of Ranunculales 
Family 1. Nymphaeaceae (see below). Rooted aquatic plants. Flowers large (about 3 — 15 
cm.). Stamens 6 — 00 , anthers introrse. Carpels 3 — 00 . Seeds 00 . 
Family 2. Ceratophyllaceae (p. 100). Rootless submerged aquatic plants. Leaves all sub- 
merged. Flowers monochlamydeous, small (up to about 4 mm.). Petals or nectar-leaves absent. 
Anthers extrorse. Carpel 1. Seed 1. 
Family 3. Ranunculaceae (p. 103). Sepals usually 3 — 6, often 5, usually petaloid. Inflorescence 
cymose or solitary. Staminodes or nectar-leaves or petals sometimes absent ; when present, usually 
more or less linear, or (as in Ranunculus ) with a broad coloured petal-like limb. Stamens 5 — 00 , 
usually 00 , hypogynous ; anthers extrorse. Carpels usually 00 . Fruit an achene or follicle. 
Family 4. Actaeaceae (p. 152). Inflorescence racemose. Flowers heterochlamydeous. Sepals 
petaloid, caducous. Petals small. Stamens 00, hypogynous; anthers introrse. Carpel 1. Fruit 
succulent. 
Family 5. Berberidaceae (p. 153). Sepals n + n. Petals or nectar-leaves n + n. Stamens 
hypogynous, n + n; anthers introrse. Carpels 1. Fruit succulent. (^ = 3 or 2.) 
Family 6. ^Paeoniaceae (p. 155). Sepals 5, unequal in size. Petals 5 — 10, very large, without 
nectary. Stamens 00 , hemi-perigynous, attached to a disc, anthers extrorse. Carpels 2 — 5. Fruit 
follicular, large and often hairy. 
Family 1. NYMPHAEACEAE 
Nymphaeaceae DC. Ess. Propr. Medic. PI. ed. 2, 1 19 (1816); Theor. Elem. 243 (1819); Bentham and 
Hooker Gen. PI. i, 45 (1862); Caspary in Engler und Prantl Pflanzenfam. iii, pt. 2, 1 (1891); Nymphaeeae 
Salisbury in Ann. Bot. ii, 69 (1806). 
Perennial, aquatic herbs. Rhizomes stout. Leaves — some submerged, some floating, sometimes 
emergent, all with petioles and simple peltate laminae, margin of the lamina involute (at least in bud), 
