226 Class XIII. Order VI, 



RANUNCULUS FASCICULARIS. Muhl, Early Crowfoot, 



Leaves ternate, subpinnate ; root fascicled. 



An inhabitant of dry, rocky hills, flowering in April and May' 

 The root consists of numerous fleshy divisions, among which are 

 found dead portions of the last year's root, swollen like tubers, 

 and frequently pierced through their whole length by the new 

 or living roots. The leaves are pubescent, but have a smooth 

 appearance. Those of the root grow on long stalks, and are ter- 

 nate. Leafets three lobed, remote, the terminal one deeply 

 cleft, appearing like three distinct leafets, so that the leaf has a 

 pinnate form. Peduncles a little angular, hairy, narrow. Calyx 

 spreading, hairy underneath, yellow inside. Petals longer than 

 the calyx, transparent at base. Nectary a wedge formed, flat 

 scale as wide as claw of the petal. Seeds smooth with an acumi- 

 nate incurved point. Perennial. 



RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. L. Bulbous Crowfoot. Buttercups. 

 Calyx reflexed ; flower stalks furrowed ; stem up- 

 right, many flowered ; leaves compound. L. 



Very frequent among the grass in pastures, road sides, &c^ 

 The root is solid and fleshy, acrimonious and almost caustic. 

 Stems erect, furnished with leaves, somewhat hairy. Leaves 

 hairy, in three or five principal divisions, variously toothed and 

 cut. Flower stalks upright and furrowed. Flowers of a bright, 

 glossy yellow ; calyx leaves bent downward against the flower 

 stalk, hairy. Petals roundish, wedge shaped. Nectary a round- 

 ish wedge formed scale, convex above and hollow underneath, 

 Fruit in globular heads. May and after. Perennial. 



RANUNCULUS ACRIS. L. Tall Crowfoot. 



Calyx spreading ; flower stalks round and even ; 

 leaves in three divisions with many segments, the up- 

 per ones linear. 



Distinguished by its superior height, being usually about two 

 feet high. Root fleshy, resembling the last, but smaller in pro- 

 portion to the plant. Root leaves large, hairy, divided into 

 three or five diverging lobes, which are again repeatedly sub- 

 divided, ending in acute segments and teeth. Petioles hairy. 



