CROWFOOT FAMILY 



places of a midsummer woodland with three to five- 

 armed candelabra are worth going far to see. The 

 fleecy white blossoms bear a fetid odor and the flowers 

 of the long raceme are never all in bloom at the same 

 time, so that the plant is more admirable at a distance 

 than close at hand. But its virtues surpass its demerits, 



BUTTERCUP 



Ranunculus dcris 



* 



Ranunculus, little frog, given by Cluny to the genus be- 

 cause some of the species grow in swampy places. 



Perennial. Naturalized from Europe. Everywhere in 

 fields and roadsides. Bad weed in pastures; animals 

 avoid it because of its acrid juices. June-November. 



Stems. — Erect, two to three feet high, stout, hairy, 

 hollow. 



Leaves. — Varied, lower leaves may have from three 

 to seven deeply cut divisions; these divisions may again 

 be cleft. Stem leaves usually three-parted and clasp 

 the stalk where it branches. Basal leaves have long, 

 narrow, grooved petioles and form spreading tufts near 

 the ground. 



Flowers. — Brilliant yellow, saucer-like flowers, that look 

 as if varnished, outer surface dull and paler in color. 



Calyx. — Of five sepals, about half as long as the petals, 

 pale yellow with brownish tips. 



Corolla. — Of five, broad, wedge-shaped petals varnished 

 yellow, each with a tiny scale at base where is produced 

 the nectar of the flower. 



Stamens. — Many, inserted on the receptacle. 



Pistils. — Many, developing into akenes. 



Pollinated by beetles, bees, and butterflies. Nectar- 

 bearing. Stamens develop before the pistils. 



66 



