2 
PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO 
[Ranuncidacem. 
Of the orders of plants belonging to Polycarpous Thalamiflorae, the following 
have been hitherto observed in Australia:—Ranunculacese, Billeniaceae, Magnoliaceag, 
Monimiege, Atherospermese, Menispermeae, Cabombese, Nelumbiaceae, Nymphaeacese, 
and Myristicese. The three latter occur, however, only in the tropical portion of this 
country. Berberideae, which are arrayed with most of the preceding ones by 
Be Candolle, may possibly yet be found on the higher unexplored mountains of 
north-east Australia. Eupomatieae, referred by It. Brown to Anonacese, an order of 
this series, are to be placed amongst Calyciflorae. 
Order BANTJNCULACErE. 
Jussieu, Mem. Acad. Paris, 1773, 214. 
Sepals 3-15, but usually 5, distinct, hypogynous, deciduous, in praefloreseence 
mostly imbricated. Petals equal in number to the sepals, or munerous, free, 
imbricated in aestivation, sometimes deformed or diminutive, or missing. Stamens 
hypogynous, free, indefinite rarely definite in number. Anthers adnate, extrorse, 
(except in Paeonieae, -which may be regarded as a separate order,) bursting lengthwise. 
Pistils generally numerous, inserted to a torus, free or sometimes connate. Ovules 
anatropal. Carpels one-celled, with one or several seeds. Arillus none. Albumen 
large, horny. Embryo minute, straight, lodged in a groove at the base of the 
albumen. 
Herbs, or more rarely shrubs, with a limpid juice often of volatile acridity. 
Petioles vaginate. Leaves often divided, without proper stipules. Hair, when 
present, simple .—D C. Prodr. i. 2 ; Henfrey’s PJlem. Course of Botany, p. 220: 
Wight Sf Arnott, Prodr. Flor. Ind. i. 1. 
All the genuine tribes of the Banunculaceae are found represented in Victoria: 
but of the genus Anemone, which is widely distributed chiefly over the colder 
regions of the globe, no species is known in continental Australia, although one, 
Anemone erassifolia (Hook. Icon. Plant, cclvii.), inhabits the Alps of Tasmania. 
No plant of this order has been observed in any of those parts of tropical Australia 
traversed by the author of this work, but several of our southern species extend as 
far as the tropic of Capricorn. 
Tribe I. CLEMATIDE7E, Cand. Syst. i. 134. 
Calyx colored, with valvate or induplicate praeflorescence. Petals none, or 
shorter than the sepals, and flat. Carpels one-seeded, indehiscent, terminated by an 
often feathery style. Seeds pendulous. 
