Ranunculus Bnlbosus Semiplenus. 243 
A crimson clover plant with some quadri foliate leaves 
was obtained by the selection of tricotylous and tetra- 
cotylous seedlings in conformity with previously studied 
laws of correlation. The anomaly proved to be heritable 
and has maintained itself until now, during six genera- 
tions (1895-1900). It was improved by selection but 
only within very narrow limits. Plants with more than 
five leaflets per leaf have not as yet arisen, nor have 
plants bearing ten or more 4- to 5-foliate leaves, and it 
is nearly always the "small" seeds which give rise to 
seedlings with compound primary leaves. 
But the chief result is that the desired race, rich in 
4- foliate leaves, T. incarnatum quinqucfoUuni' anal- 
ogous with Trifolium pratcnse quinquefolium, did not 
arise. 1 
23. RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS SEMIPLENUS. 
Double flowers are common phenomena amongst the 
buttercups. 2 They occur not only in the cultivated Ra- 
nunculi (R. asiaticus} but also in several wild species. 
The doubling may be either complete and brought about 
by petalomania as in the Ranunculus acris shown in Fig. 
40, Vol. I, p. 194; or it may be more or less incomplete 
when caused by the transformation of a varying number 
of stamens into petals (R. acris, R. auricoinus, R. Phih- 
notis, R. r opens etc.). 
In Ranunculus bulbosus, the bulbous buttercup, the 
1 The same thing no doubt occurs also in other cases. The at- 
tempt to breed from occasional anomalies a constant race endowed 
with the particular variation, in some cases succeeds, but in others 
does not. For instance I have for many years endeavored to raise 
from the occasional polycephaly in Papaver cotnmutatuni a race with 
as beautiful crowns as those which characterize the familiar Papai'er 
somnifcrum polycephalum (see Vol. I, p. 138, Fig. 27), but in vain. 
- See PENZIG, Pfianzenteratologie, Vol. I, pp. 181-189. 
