14 KANUNCULACEiE. [Itamnculus. 



Hab. Shores of Lake Huron. Dr. Richardson. Drummond. — Mode of growth and general aspect of 

 R. parnassicBfolius : the leaves being of nearly the same shape, undivided, on long petioles, so that they rise 

 much above the very short stem and flowers. The foliage, too, is very large in proportion to the size of the 

 plant ; yet when we come to compare this species with the preceding one, we shall find that there are many 

 essential characters in common, and that it is probably only a variety of it. There are several specimens, 

 however, in the collection, and there is no variation among them. 



10. R, cardiophyllus ; pubescenti-hirsutus, foliis radicalibus rotundato-cordatis basi 

 sub-profunde emarginatis integris multifidisque, caalinis palmato-multifidis laciniis lineari- 

 bus inciso-crenatis, calyce patente corolla dimidio breviore, fructibus oblongis. (Tab. V. B. 

 Fig, 1, Pericarp : — magnified,) 



Tota planta magis minusve pubescenti-hirsuta. Caulis fere pedalis, erectus, strictus, subrobustus. Folia 

 radicaUa 3 vel 4, longe petiolata, rotundato-cordata, basi subprofunde emarglnata, integra, crenata vel multi- 

 partita, laciniis linearibus subiutegris ; caulina fere sessilia, multipartita, Flores majusculi, aurei. Calyx 

 membranaceus, subcoloratus, patens, corolla duplo brevior. Petala late ovalia, concava, obtusissima, 



Fructus oblongus. Cariopsides numerosae, subrotundse, parvse, corapressse, stylo uncinato longiusculo ter- 

 minatse. 



Hab. From Canada to lat. 55**. In the central prairie and limestone districts. Dr. Richardson. Drum^ 

 mond. Alpine prairies in the Rocky Mountains. Drummond,~~Of all this tribe, the present individual is the 

 tallest, stoutest, and has the largest flower. Its radical leaves are more deeply emarginate at the base than 

 any other; yet I dare not positively pronounce it a good species. It may be considered as holding nearly the 

 same relationship with R. ovaliSy as R. affinis does Avith auricoinus. 



I have more than once, and that in unison with the ideas of my valued friend Mr. Arnott, had the inten- 

 tion of describing the whole of the last four species as different states of R. auricomus : but I felt that I 

 should make myself better understood, and create less confusion, by considering them species, or, if the 

 reader pleases, subspecies, than by enumerating them as varieties. When seen growing by Mr. Drummond, 

 in their respective localities, they appeared to him to be truly distinct; but, at the same time, there are 

 gradations which seem to unite the whole. They all agree in general habit, in the fasciculato-fibrous roots, 

 erect stems, deeply divided cauline leaves or bractese, in the somefl hat colouied thin membranaceous erecto- 

 patent, at length reflexed sepals, and in the shape and structure of the carpels : they vary in the divided or 

 entire root-leaves, in the comparative lengths of the petals, and in the rounded or elongated heads of fruit. 



To some of these species or varieties, the R. cassubicus approaches very nearly ; but it has a more 

 Straggling habit, and the root-leaves are more reniform, the heads of capsules rounded, or nearly so, and with 

 fewer carpels. Many of these are probably included in the numerous varieties of R. auricomus of Schlecht- 

 endal, who considers it certain that the R. cassubicus should be united with that plant. One other plant of 

 this groupe yet remains to be described, namely the 



11. R, abortivus ; foliis radicalibus cordato-subreniformibus late ovatisve obtusis crena- 

 tis integris vel trisectis, caulinis plerumque tripartitis segmentis lineari-lanceolatis integris 

 vel incisis, calyce colorato reflexo, fructus capitulo oblongo rotundato. 



«, petalis linearibus calyce vix longioribus. — R. abortivus. Linn. — Pursh, Fl, Am, v. 2. 

 p. 392. Bigel Fl. Bost ed, 2. p, 225. Elliott, Carol, v. 2. p. 58. De Cand. Prodr. v. 1. 

 p. 34. Schlecht Animadv, Sect 2. p, 10.— R. nitidus. Walt. Fl. Carol p. 159; (accord- 

 ing to De Cand., though Elliott refers that to E. sceleratus ;) not of Muhl and Elliott. 

 Purskf Fl. Am. v. 2. p. 392. 



fi. petalis calyce pilosciusculo duplo longioribus. 



Hab. «. and /3. Canada; and to lat. ST^ : central limestone and prairie districts, and eastern dechvities 



