220 BOTANY 
as those that concern the reproductive organs. These, 
however, will be illustrated in dealing with the pre- 
seribed natural orders. Objection has, with some 
degree of justice, been raised to the tabular method 
of description, as leading to a stereotyped form of 
answer, and precluding reference to exceptional 
matters not comprised within it. It would seem that. 
by keeping to this form, and yet, at the same time, 
allowing the greatest freedom in the description of 
matters for which it does not specially provide, this. 
difficulty is obviated. For its convenience of arrange- 
ment and the assistance it affords in ensuring the 
inclusion of essentials, the tabular form will be 
employed in the following descriptions. Accurate 
drawings showing the general appearance of the plant 
and its organs, as well as the junctions and details of 
the several parts, are of prime importance. A clear 
sketch will often be more illuminating than a whole 
page of description. A vertical section as well as the 
so-called floral diagram (i.e. a ground plan of the 
flower) should always be given. 
DICOTYLEDONS. 
Dicotyledons have net-veined leaves, stems showing” 
a ring of vascular bundles with cambium, two cotyledons: 
to the seed, and, as a rule, the parts of the flower in: 
fours or fives. 
RANUNCULACE. 
The Hairy Buttercup (Figs. 123-124) (Ranunculus 
hirsutus) is a typieal plant of this order, and may be 
described as follows :-— 
Habit—A hairy perennial plant, with erect 
flowering stem and straight rootstock (2.€., a short 
rhizome). It flourishes in damp places and in New 
Zealand flowers nearly all the year round. 
Root.—Fibrous. 
Stem.—A rootstock throwing up an herbaceous (i.e. 
not woody) erect, round, hollow, hairy, green aérial 
shoot. 
