Class XIII. Order VI. 137 



171. RANUNCULUS. 

 RANUNCULUS ABORTIVUS. L. Small flowered crowfoot. 



Radical leaves heart-shaped, crenate ; stem 

 leaves ternate, angular ; stem about three flowered. 

 L. 



This species is easily distinguished by its small flowers, and 

 undivided, radical leaves. The leaves which grow from the 

 root are heart or kidney shaped, crenate, the longest ones some- 

 times lobed. Stem leaves in threes, at the base of each pedun- 

 cle, nearly sessile, the upper ones lanceolate. Stems erect, 

 smooth, few flowered. Flowers small, yellow. Woods. May, 

 June. Perennial. 



RANUNCULUS SCELEHATUS. L. Celery leaved crowfoot. 



Lower leaves palmate ; uppermost in finger like 

 divisions ; fruit oblong. 



A smooth, branching plant, with small flowers. Stem thick, 

 round and hollow. Lower leaves divided deeply, but not so 

 far as the petiole, the segments toothed and lobed. Upper 

 leaves sessile, divided to the bottom. Flowers numerous, on 

 petioles of unequal length. Calyx pubescent, somewhat de- 

 flected. Petals small, concave, yellow. Seeds small, in a close, 

 cylindrical head.- Grows in watery places. June, July. Per- 

 ennial. It is vepy acrid, when fresh, and may be made to pro- 

 duce blisters. 



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 fasciculated, fleshy divi- 

 sions. The leaves are pubescent, but have a smooth appearance. 



Those of the root grow on long stalks, and are ternate. Leafets 

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