IIARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



109 



Section II. 



Div. I. Without floating leaves. 



3. R. trichophylhis (Chaix). Submersed leaves 

 dark green ; segments short, rigid, apiculate. Flowers 



very small. Easily 

 known by its 

 short, pointed, 

 dark green leaf- 

 segments. 



4. R. Droitettii 

 (F. Schultz). Sub- 

 mersed leaves 

 bright green, seg- 

 ments collapsing 

 (i.e. when taken 

 from the water 

 they are like a 

 camel's-hair pen- 

 cil when in use), 

 not apiculate. 



5. R. fluitans 

 (Lam.). Sub- 

 mersed leaves very 

 long, linear. 

 Flowers very 

 large. Generally 

 found in shallow 

 rivers, abundant 

 in the Severn. 



6. R. circinatus 

 (Sibth.). Segments 

 all in one plane, 

 rigid, in a round- 

 ish outline, forming a flat, rigid disk. Flowers very 

 small. 



Div. II. With floating tripartite leaves. 



Note. — All the species comprised in this division 

 may be recognised better from the illustrations, the 

 characters bear such a strong resemblance or simi- 

 larity, except to those who have studied them long 

 and carefully, 



7. R. heterophylhis (Sibth.). The submersed leaves 

 of this species have long filiform collapsing segments. 

 Floating leaves nearly circular in outline, and with 

 long petioles ; style liooked. 



8. R. confusus (Godr.). Leaf segments not collaps- 

 ing? rigid. Floating leaves semicircular, flat ; style 

 recurved. The stem of this species rises out of the 

 water. 



9. R. Bandotiii (Godr.). Floating leaves tripartite. 

 Leaf-segments olive-green, apiculate, not collapsing. 

 Flower stalks often exceed the leaves in length. 

 Carpels inflated at the end. 



10. R. peltatus (Fr.). We combine R. floribundas 

 (Bab.) with this species, being unable to detect any 

 difference. Flowers numerous, sweetly-scented, large. 

 Floating leaves almost circular in outline. 



1 1. R. tripartitus (DC). St. rising out of the water. 

 Pets, very small, often slightly tinged with pink. The 



Fig. 99. — Ranunculus Droitettii. 



submersed leaves often absent, then it has a close re- 

 semblance to R. Lenormandi. It is a very distinct 

 species. 



12. R. pseudo fluitans. — Submtrsed leaves long. 



Fig. 100. — Ranunculus Jluitans. 



with flat segments resembling R. fluitans. Floating 

 leaves tripartite. Flowers (rarely seen) about as large 

 as heterophyllus. This is a very variable plant, some- 

 times the segments are collapsing, but more frequently 

 long and rigid. 



