Mr. C. C. Babington on the Batrachian Ranunculi. 399 



than twice as long as the calyx at their first expansion. Nec- 

 tary oblong, its margin slightly thickened all round and a little 

 prominent below. Stamens about 30. Style curved, short, 

 prolonging the inner edge of the ovary. Carpels not inflated ; 

 inner edge nearly straight. Receptacle small ; its shape is 

 rather doubtful, owing to the cultivated plant perfecting few 

 carpels, and its shape not having been observed in the wild plant 

 when fresh. 



This plant differs from R. heterophyllus and all the other 

 species, except perhaps R. tripartitusj by its " necessary " float- 

 ing leaves, for the presence of a flower springing in company 

 with a submersed leaf is extremely rare, with ^-trifid not tri- 

 partite nor wedge-shaped lobes, and by their being nearly 

 always convex ; by its submersed leaves not collapsing ; its long 

 narrowed peduncles ; and petals contiguous except when about 

 to fall ; from R. confusus by its convex not tripartite floating 

 leaves, contiguous petals, J-obovate and very blunt carpels ; 

 from R, Baudotii by its convex not tripartite leaves with obovate 

 segments, narrowing peduncles, contiguous petals, long stamens 

 and short receptacle. 



Flowering from May to September. 



I possess this plant from St. Pierre in Monmouthshire, (where 

 it was first noticed as being a distinct species by the Rev. F. J. 

 A. Hort), Bream in Gloucestershire, and Hoveton in Norfolk. 



Sturm's figure quoted above represents the petals as not 

 being contiguous, but is doubtless intended for this plant. 

 Fries's specimen contained in the Herb. Normale is very im- 

 perfect, but leaves no doubt upon my mind of the identity of 

 our plant with it. A specimen sent to Fries, with the name of 

 R. 'peltatus attached to it, was stated by him to be correctly so 

 named. 



8. R. tripartitus (D.C.); " submersed leaves divided into capil- 

 lary segments collapsing," floating leaves long-stalked sub- 

 peltate deeply trifid with cuneate-obovate 2-4-fid segments, 

 peduncles not narrowing falling short of the leaves, flowers 

 very small, petals oblong 3-nerved not contiguous, stamens 

 few exceeding the pistils, stigma small on a long subulate ter- 

 minal style with a slender base, receptacle globose, carpels un- 

 equally obovate much inflated with a nearly terminal point. 



R. tripartitus, DeCand. PL Gall. Bar. p. 15. t. 49 ; Eng. Bat. Suppl. 



t. 2946 ; Lloydy Ft. Loire, 4 ! 

 R. tripartitus a. microphyllus, DeCand, Syst. i. 234. 



Stem floating or creeping, rooting from the lower joinings, 

 slightly furrowed, rising out of the water. Submersed leaves 

 (which have not yet been observed in Britain) several times 



