380 ME. F. C. S. EOPJifi ON BANUNCULTTS LINGUA. 



cules (a feature -which may be used to separate forms, but not 

 varieties), until it can be ascertained definitely whether it is 

 identical with the type of WeddelYs pallida. 



Doubtless there may be found among the descendants of 

 Ledger's seeds some other forms of Calisaya already described 

 by "Weddell, as well as some hybrids yielding a large percentage 

 of quinine ; indeed this seems probable from the fact that Mr. 

 Howard's Ledgeriana yields a large percentage, and is yet 

 different from Dr. Trimen's plant. 



I would suggest, therefore, to planters that herbarium speci- 

 mens, gathered when in fully formed fruit, and accompanied by 

 a characteristic portion of bark, should be kept for reference, of 

 all forms that present a recognizable difference in habit of growth, 

 appearance of bark, typical form of leaf, size and structure of 

 flower, and shape and size of fruit. In this way only can the 

 tangle be unravelled into which the mixture of a variety of seeds 

 supplied by Mr. Ledger has led botanists. 



Note on Ranunculus Lingua, Linn. 

 By Ebeeman C. S. Eope£, E.L.S., F.G.S. 



[Bead 18th December, 1884.] 

 (Plates XIII. & XIV.) 

 RAmmcuzvs Lingua is a plant very generally distributed in 

 Britain, as it was recorded from 72 counties in Watson's Topo- 

 graphical Botany, and is stated in the second edition to occur in 

 77 counties. But it appears to be local and sparingly distributed 

 in most parts of England; and I have only seen it in three loca- 

 lities in this part (Eastbourne) of Sussex. It is probably from 

 this cause that the early primordial submerged leaves appear to 

 be very little known, or generally overlooked ; at all events, they 

 are very rarely noticed by botanical writers. The specific de- 

 scriptions given by the great majority of authors have been drawn 

 up from the aerial leaves alone ; and these differ so widely from 

 the early submerged leaves that no one would imagine that they 

 belonged to the same plant. I think, therefore, it may be 

 useful to direct attention to these early leaves, of which the 

 accompanying sketches are accurate representations, drawn to 

 scale of about half the natural size. 



On looking through the botanical works I have available, I 



