RANUNCULACEAE. 



VOL. II. 



1 6. Ranunculus abortivus L. Kidney- or 

 Smooth-leaved Crowfoot. Fig. 1910. 



Ranunculus abortivus L. Sp. PI. 551. 1/53. 



R. abortivus encyclus Fernald, Rhodora i : 52. 1899. 



Glabrous, or but sparingly pubescent, 6'-2 

 high, branched. Basal leaves long-petioled, 

 bright green, thick, crenate or sometimes lobed, 

 broadly ovate, obtuse, and generally cordate or 

 reniform, the cauline sessile or nearly so, di- 

 vided into oblong or linear somewhat cuneate 

 lobes; head of fruit globose, the receptacle short, 

 pubescent ; flowers yellow, 2"-$" broad, the petals 

 oblong, shorter than the reflexed calyx ; achenes 

 tipped with a minute curved beak. 



In woods and moist grounds, Labrador and Nova 

 Scotia to Manitoba, south to Florida, Arkansas and 

 Colorado. Recorded as biennial in duration. April- 

 June. 



17. Ranunculus micranthus Nutt. Rock 

 Crowfoot. Fig. 1911. 



R. micranthus Nutt. ; T. & G. Fl. N. A. i : 18. 1838. 

 Ranunculus abortivus var. micranthus A. Gray, Man. 

 Ed. 5, 42. 1867. 



Similar to the preceding species but usually 

 smaller, villous with spreading hairs, flowering 

 when very young, 6'-i8' tall. Leaves thin, dull 

 green, the basal ones ovate, obovate, or subor- 

 bicular, 3-lobed or crenate, narrowed, rounded 

 or subcordate at the base; segments of the upper 

 leaves narrow, entire or sharply toothed ; flowers 

 yellow, about 3" broad ; sepals narrowed into a 

 short claw ; petals oblong or oval, 2-3 times as 

 long as wide ; head of fruit rather longer than 

 thick, the receptacle linear, glabrous or very 

 nearly so. 



In rich woods, often on rocks, Maine to Minnesota, 

 Saskatchewan, Georgia, Arkansas and Colorado. In 

 New York it blooms somewhat earlier than the pre- 

 ceding species. Roots tuberous. April-May. 



18. Ranunculus alleghaniensis Britton. 

 Mountain Crowfoot. Fig. 1912. 



Ranunculus alleghaniensis Britton, Bull. Torr. Club 

 22 : 224. 1895. 



Similar in aspect to R. abortivus and R. mi- 

 cranthus, glabrous, stem widely branched, i- 

 2 tall. Basal leaves reniform or suborbicular, 

 6"-2 f wide, long-petioled, crenate or some of 

 them lobed, the teeth and lobes subacute; stem 

 leaves sessile or the lower petioled, divided 

 nearly or quite to the base into linear acute^ en- 

 tire toothed or cleft segments ; ^flowers 2 "-3" 

 broad; petals oblong, not exceeding the calyx, 

 yellow, glandular; head of fruit globose or glo- 

 bose-oblong, 2" in diameter; achenes slightly 

 compressed and margined, tipped with subulate 

 hooked or recurved styles of about one-half their 

 length. 



In rich woods, Vermont, Massachusetts and New 

 York to the mountains of North Carolina. Plant 

 slightly glaucous. April-May. 



