220 Rhodora [NOVEMBER 
the arctic X. pedatifidus J. E. Smith, is in reality quite distinct from 
that species. The basal leaves are merely crenate as in Ẹ. abortivus 
L. and not deeply cleft as in A. pedatifidus. The smaller flowers and 
glabrous achenes furnish also clear characters for the separation of 
the northeastern plant. An attempt to place more satisfactorily this 
little buttercup led at that time to the view that it was a tall variety 
of the arctic Æ. pygmaeus Wahl. 
During the past summer, however, Messrs. Fernald & Collins in 
their exploration of Gaspé Peninsula succeeded in securing an abun- 
dance of fruiting and some flowering material both of the typical A. 
pygmaeus and of the doubtful plant. From their field observations 
they were convinced that the two were entirely distinct, and they 
have kindly referred their specimens to the writer for further study. 
The doubtful plant, as shown by the excellent material now at hand, 
proves in fact readily distinguishable both from A. pedatifidus and 
from AA. pygmaeus, differing from the latter not merely by greater 
stature and more erect habit but by having much larger achenes. 
'The species is dedicated with pleasure to Mr. John Alpheus Allen, 
who early collected it on Mt. Albert, Gaspé. It may be character- 
ized as follows : — 
Ranunculus Allenii, nov. spec. Herba perennis terrestris parva 
erecta caulescens 1.2-2 dm. alta; radice e fibris gracilibus plurimis 
composita; caule solitario simplici vel semel ramoso erecto gracili 
leviter villoso recto vel plus minusve flexuoso viridi 2—4-foliato ; 
foliis radicalibus ca. 4 longe petiolatis orbicularibus vel subreni- 
formibus 8-20 mm. longis 15-30 mm. latis profunde 7-1 1-crenatis 
ciliatis utrinque viridibus subtus vix pallidioribus, petiolis gracilibus 
villosis 3-7 cm. longis; foliis caulinis in lobos ellipticos vel lanceo- 
lati-oblongos fere ad basin 3-5-sectis, petiolis brevibus; foliis su- 
premis subsessilibus saepissime integris lanceolatis vel 2—3-partitis ; 
pedunculis villosis 1-6 cm. longis; sepalis 5 ovatis obtusis sub- 
petaloideis luteo-vel viridi-purpurascentibus venosis pallide villosis 
concavis 3 mm. longis patentibus vel plus minusve reflexis; petalis 
s laete flavis obovato-suborbicularibus integris 5 mm. longis 3-3.5 
mm. latis, nectariis saturate flavis obtriangularibus truncatis vel 
levissime retusis; staminibus 12-20, filamentis clavellatis glabris; 
stylis filiformibus recurvatis, parte basali in rostro parvo uncinato 
persistente; achaeniis semiobovatis leviter compressis viridibus gla- 
bris 1.8 mm. longis; receptaculo ovoideo-cylindrico patente villoso. 
Herbaceous, perennial, terrestrial, small, erect, caulescent, 1.2 to 
2 dm. high: root a fascicle of slender fibers; stem solitary, simple 
or once branched, slender, slightly villous, straight or somewhat 
flexuous, green, 2-4-leaved: basal leaves about 4, long-petioled ; 
