64 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. 
_ A more particular description of the plant in 
our figure is as follows. Root fleshy, solid, 
roundish, depressed, sending out radicles from | 
its under side. In autumn it gives off lateral 
bulbs near its top, which afford plants for the 
next year, while the old root decays. Stems 
several, erect, round, hairy, branching. Root 
leaves on long petioles, ternate, sometimes 
quinate ; the segments variously cut, lobed and 
toothed ; hairy. Stem leaves sessile, ternate, the 
upper ones more simple. Flowers several on a 
stem, solitary, of a bright glossy yellow. Pedun- 
cles furrowed, angular, hairy. Calyx leaves 
oblong, hairy, bent back against the peduncle. 
Petals five, inversely heart shaped ; the nectary 
at the claw covered with a small wedge-shaped 
emarginate scale. Stamens numerous, yellow, 
with oblong erect anthers. Germs numerous 
with reflexed stigmas. Fruit a spherical head 
eomposed of acute, naked, ——" seeds with 
recurved points. eit 
The roots of Ranunculus sieTboias appear to 
consist principally of albumen intermixed with 
ligneous fibres. If the root be macerated in cold 
water, it gives a solution of this substance, which 
coagulates in flocks on the application of heat; 
and undergoes the same process slowly on the 
