30. Ranunculaceae.—Crowfoot family.
Herbaceous or somewhat shrubby plants with acrid juice; distinguished by the parts of the flower-sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils-being free and distinct—that is, separated and independently situated on the receptacle. The leaves are dilated at base, one-half clasping the stem. Fruit a pointed or feathery akene, dry pod, or berry. The order has numerous anomalies in the form and structure of the calyx, and corolla in such genera as columbine, aconite, larkspur, ranunculus, anemone, etc., which, nevertheless, agree in the separation of their sepals and petals, the insertion of their numerous stamens, direction of their anthers, structure of seed, etc.
