472 



Ranunculaceae 



Ranunculus 



50 



Map 973 



Ranunculus septentrfona lis P 



oir. 



Miles 



6 50 

 Map 974 

 Ranunculus septentrionalis 

 var. carfcetorum (Greene) Fern. 



50 



Map 975 



Thalictrum dioicum L. 



character. The fruit, however, is rather constant. 

 3.5-7 mm in width and from 6-12 mm in length. 

 Vt., Ont., N. Dak., southw. to Ga. and Ark. 



The petals vary from 



17. Ranunculus septentrionalis Poir. Map 973. In separating this 

 species from this perplexing complex I have no guide except a meager 

 amount of literature. Poiret in his original description says the plant 

 is 8-10 inches high and that the petioles of the radical leaves are glabrous. 

 I infer that the description was drawn from a glabrate form and a very 

 young specimen since he adds that the base of the stem is villous or 

 pubescent but does not mention that later radical leaves may be quite 

 pubescent. He says that the calyx is glabrous, furnished with sparse 

 hairs at the summit. Of the 34 specimens which I have from Indiana, 

 all have the entire calyx appressed-pubescent except one specimen which 

 is glabrous throughout except for a few hairs at the summit of the 

 peduncle. Fernald cited a specimen of Ranunculus hispidus var. falsus 

 Fern, from Indiana and some local authors have been so naming juvenile 

 specimens of this species. Since this species roots at the nodes it certainly 

 does not belong to Ranunculus hispidus which is an erect plant. 



This species is found throughout the state in wet woods and more rarely 

 on slopes and banks. Since I have never been able to satisfactorily separate 

 this species from the preceding one and the following variety the maps 

 indicate only a scattered distribution. 



N. B. to Man., southw. to Ga. and Kans. 



17a. Ranunculus septentrionalis Poir. (Spreading-pubescent form.) 

 This form is found sparsely throughout the state in habitats similar to 

 those of the usual form of the species. I have only 6 specimens from 

 Indiana. 



17b. Ranunculus septentrionalis var. caricetorum (Greene) Fern. 

 (Rhodora 38: 177-178. 1936.) (Ranunculus caricetorum Greene.) Map 

 974. This variety is probably not very rare in the lake area of the state 



