104 
RANUNCULA CEAE 
like, often involucrate, sometimes petaloid. Thalamus or receptacle more or less elongate, holding all 
the parts of the flower. Flowers monoclinous, usually protandrous, usually actinomorphic, primitively 
monochlamydeous, sometimes heterochlamydeous (as in Ranunculinae, owing to the petaloid develop- 
ment of the nectiferous staminodes or owing to the bracts becoming sepaloid or even petaloid), the 
parts often spirally arranged. Disc absent. Sepals free, usually more or less petaloid. Staminodes 
or nectar-leaves or petals absent in the less specialised forms (e.g., Caltha and Clematis ), when present 
usually tubular and often more or less bilabiate, one of the lips becoming broad and petal-like in 
Ranunculus , hypogynous. Stamens 5— 00 , usually 00 , often spirally arranged, hypogynous and free ; 
anthers extrorse. Carpels 00 — 1, usually 00 , often spirally arranged, usually free, superior. Ovules 
00 — 1 in each carpellary loculus, anatropous. Placentation basal or sutural. Style short or absent, 
often more or less persistent and forming the beaks to the fruits. Fruit a group of follicles or 
achenes, rarely a more or less syncarpous capsule as in Helleborus spp. and Nigella. Endosperm 
copious, oily. Embryo minute. Integuments 1 — 2. 
The nectar-secreting organs so common in this family, placed between the calyx and the androecium, are sterilised stamens. 
In development, they are often formed in the same series as the stamens : they occupy the position of stamens and do not 
alternate with the sepals ; and when more than ordinarily numerous the increased number is at the expense of the stamens, 
as their position shows. They are often more or less bilabiate ; and in Ranunculus , the outer lip has become very large 
and very broad; and the organs may then be reasonably called petals. They should be compared with the same organs in 
Berberidaceae. In our opinion, the corolla, both in the higher Centrospermae and Heterochlamydeae , is of androecial origin. 
The calyx, on the other hand, we regard as of bracteal and hence of obviously foliar origin. 
About 1 200 species ; cosmopolitan. 
Tribes of Ranunculaceae 
Tribe I. Helleboreae (see below). Fruit a follicle. Seeds several in each follicle, usually 
biseriate, uniseriate in Eranthis. 
Tribe II. Anemoneae (p. 113). Fruit an achene. Seeds — 1 functional seed in each achene, 
sometimes with additional vestigial ones. 
Tribe I. HELLEBOREAE 
Helleboreae DC. Syst. Nat. i, 130 et 306 (1818). 
For characters, see above. 
Subtribes of Helleboreae 
Subtribe I. Calthinae (see below). Laminae simple, palmately nerved. Flowers acyclic, 
actinomorphic or nearly so. Sepals usually 5, deciduous. Nectar-leaves or petals absent. Carpels 
5 — 10, sessile, free, provided with nectaries. 
Subtribe II. Helleborinae (p. 106). Laminae compound, palmately or digitately divided. 
Flowers acyclic, actinomorphic or nearly so. Nectar-leaves or petals present, green or yellow, not 
spurred. Carpels 10 — 2, sessile, free or joined a little at the base. 
Subtribe III. Aquilegiinae (p. 110). Laminae compound, 2 — 3 times ternate. Flowers cyclic, 
actinomorphic. Nectar-leaves or petals present, petaloid, produced backwards into a hollow spur. 
Inner stamens sterile. Carpels 5 — 1, free or united at the base, sessile. 
Subtribe IV. ^Delphiniinae (p. 111). Laminae compound. Flowers cyclic, zygomorphic. 
N ectar-leaves or petals present, 2 only functional. Carpels 5 — 1, free, sessile. 
Subtribe I. CALTHINAE 
Calthinae nobis. 
For characters, see above. Only genus : — Caltha. 
Genus 1. Caltha 
Caltha L. [Gen. PI. 165 (1737)] Sp. PI. 558 (1753) et Gen. PI. ed. 5, 244(1754); Prantl in Pflanzenfam. 
iii, pt. 2, 55 et 56 (1891). [Populago Tournefort Inst. 273, t. 145 (1700).] 
Perennial herbs. Leaves petioled ; laminae simple, more or less cordate at the base. Flowers 
monochlamydeous. Sepals petaloid, deep yellow, deciduous, usually 5, subequal in size. Stamens 00 . 
Follicles 3 — 10. Seeds several in each follicle, oblong, testa hard and smooth, chalaza and raphe 
conspicuous. 
About 16 species; cosmopolitan. 
