Notes on the Flora of Ontario. 223 



R. repens being an introduced species is always found in the settled 

 parts of the country, generally by ditches or in boggy pastures. It is 

 perennial, and creeps extensively, lies prostrate on the ground or 

 nearly so, forming mats ; its leaves are often spotted, and usually very 

 hairy. 



K. Macounii grows in boggy places usually amongst grass, is 

 ascending or declined, seldom or never rooting at the joints, and is not 

 perennial. Our most eastern specimens are from Lake Nipigon, but it 

 is certain to be found farther east. 



The two following species are included in the R. fascicularis of 

 Gray's Manual (page 43), but are separated in Dr. Britton's Revision 

 and in Vol. I, Part I of the Synoptical Flora of North America just 

 published. The species are R. hispidus, Michx. (not Hook.), and R. 

 fascicularis, Muhl. Both grow in woods and flower early, but 

 the former prefers the drier ground. Both have large flowers but the 

 former is much the taller, and has fibrous roots, and the pubescence 

 of the lower parts is spreading, while in the latter the roots are tuberous- 

 thickened or fusiform, and the pubescence of the lower part of the stems 

 is appressed. We have the former from Wesley Park, Niagara Falls 

 which is the only known locality but the latter species extends from 

 the Bay of Quinte westward. 



Closely related to these is R. septentrionalis, Poir., which has a 

 wide range in the province, and seems to claim the alluvium along our 

 rivers and smaller streams for its habitat. We have specimens from 

 Manotick and Casselman and westward. This species is stouter than 

 either of the others, is often stoloniferous, has large yellow flowers, and 

 is seldom very hairy. It may be taken foi R. Macounii, but is easily 

 separated by its fruit, which is rather gradually contracted into a long 

 flat beak. In Macounii the beak is short and straight, and formed of 

 the whole flat, subulate style. 



Following Ranunculus is the genus Caltha with one species 

 C. paiustris, L. the well known "Cowslip" of the people or the Marsh 

 Marigold of the books. This species is found by the margins of rivers 

 and brooks and in wet places everywhere. Its early and bright yellow 

 flowers make it an attractive object in spring, 



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