Part 108. The crowfoot order (Ranunculales or Ranales). A comparison of the three families we have been studying shows them to be closely linked together, much as are the genera within each family. By such linkage there is formed a natural chain of families including these and several others resembling them in important respects. Such a group of families is termed, as we have seen, an order. That which clusters about the crowfoot family takes significantly the name of the crowfoot order.

The prevailing characters of Ranunculales are expressed in the formula of the order given on pages 406, 407.

Neglecting the more variable or exceptional features we may say that the plants of this order, though differing widely in habit, foliage, and inflorescence, are characterized by having usually cymose inflorescences of mostly perfect, regular, and hypogynous flowers with well-developed perianth often in whorls of three, stamens and carpels usually numerous, and all parts commonly distinct and free.