io8 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Fig. 96. The Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis). 



result. To many of our 

 readers this will add a new 

 study to one which is get- 

 ting threadbare. 



Our space being neces- 

 sarily limited, we may be 

 pardoned by passing over 

 the history of the Batra- 

 chian ranunculi, without 

 any remarks ; our object is 

 to make them simple and 

 plain to every botanist, for 

 so far as our flowering 

 plants are concerned, they 

 ought to be recognised at 

 a glance. 



First, looking at the 

 whole of our aquatic ranun- 

 culi, we readily perceive 

 they naturally divide into 

 two sections : 



(A.) Found growing 

 only in muddy or boggy 

 places, and devoid of 

 submersed leaves. 



Fig. 97. — Ranunculus heterophyllu?. 



Fig. 98. — Ranunculus tripartitus. 



(B.) Floating water plants. 

 Section I. 



1. Ranunculus ' hederaceus (Linn.). Leaves 

 spotted, small. Flowers very small 1 ; pets. 

 3-veined. The point of the style, on the carpel 

 (seed-vessel) always at the side. 



2. R. Lenormandi (E. B. S.). Leaves much 

 larger than above, not spotted. Flowers large ; 

 pets. 5-veined. The obovate carpel with a 

 terminal point ; syn. R. canosus, (Guss.) 



