299 BOTANY 
arranged on a dome-shaped receptacle, ovary superior 
(2.e., fixed to the receptacle above the other parts of 
the flower) ; stigma terminal, one ovule in each ovary; 
basal placentation (ovule joined to base of ovary). 
Fruit a collection or etario of achenes (7.¢., one- 
seeded, dry, indehiscent fruits); seeds possess a little 
endosperm, 
Pollination. The outer stamens ripen first and then 
the inner ones. The carpels ripen between the two 
sets of stamens. In this way either self-pollination 
or eross-pollination can take place. The flowers are 
visited by numerous insects for honey and pollen, and 
these creeping over the flowers may either bring pollen 
from another fiower and so eross-pollinate, or they 
may distribute pollen from the stamens to the pistil 
of the same flower and produce self-pollination. 
Characteristics of the order—flower hypogynous 
with numerous free stamens and ecarpels, and fruit an 
etarlo either of achenes or follicles. 
The flowers of the Ranunculacexw are primitive in 
several respects: e.g., the spiral arrangement of the 
carpels, the numerous stamens, the free carpels and 
elongated receptacle which is nearer to the true branch 
form than in most flowers. 
The order is rich in poisons such as aconite and 
hellebore. | 
Floral Formula:—K5, C5, Aco, G Ltooo, 
(a) K5 means there are five sepals not united. 
If they were united it would be written 
thus: K(5). 
(6) C5 means that there are five petals not 
united, 
(c) Aco means that there are numerous stamens. 
(d) Gitocc means that the carpels may in 
different genera of the order be one, two, 
three, and so on to almost any number. 
