KANUNCULACEJE. 16 RANUNCULUS. 



some of its species. A large and well known genus of perennial herbs, made 

 the type of the Order. Cal. inf. of 5 ovate leaves. Pet. 5, roundish, shining. 

 Nect. a pore sometimes covered b}' a scale. Fil. numerous, much shorter than- 

 pet. Ova. many, collected into a round head. 



* Leaves simple, undivided. 



1. R. Fla'mmula. 



Leaves smooth, lanceolate, the lower ones petiolate ; pcdioicJcs opposite the 

 leaves ; stem declining, rooting. An aquatic herb, growing in ditches, &c. 

 Root fibrous. Stem 6 — 18 inches long, more or less decumbent, with alternate, 

 nearly entire leaves thickened at the tip. Flowers lateral and terminal, soli- 

 tary, of a golden yellow. It contains a very acrid juice. Jn. — Aug. 



Small Spcarworl. 



2. J\. REPTANS. L. Var. filiformis. B. 



Very small, smooth} s/crrefiliform, creeping, geniculate; ?iof/fis one-flowered ; 

 leaves linear-subulate, obtuse. A very slender species, (J — 10 inches long, 

 creeping on river banks, tVc. with small, yellow flowers, fading to white, on 

 a.xillary peduncles. Fruit very smooth. Jl. Creeping Crowfoot. 



/3. ovalis. B. Petals 5 — 8. Leaves oval and lanceolate. 



3. R. CYMBALA'RIUS. 



Very small, smooth; stem filiform, creeping, rooting at the joints ; /cares 

 reniform-ordate, crenate-denlate ; pcrfM7?c/es solitary, mostly 2-flowered ; pet- 

 als spathulate ; fruit oblong. In salt marshes, at Saliua, ^'C. Flowers small, 

 with bright yellow petals. June. Sea Crowfoot. 



* * Leaves divided. 



4. R. ABORTI'VUS. 



Radical leaves roundish, cordate at base, crenate, petiolate ; cauUne leaves 

 ternate or pedate, angular, with linear segments. A very pretty species found 

 in woods, remarkable for the dissimilarity of the root and stem leaves. Stem 

 nearly a foot high, smooth as well as the leaves. The leaves which spring 

 from the root are on long stalks, kidney-shaped or roundish-heart-shaped, 

 regularly margined with crenate divisions. The lower stem leaves are pedate, 

 with a pentangular outline; the upper, in 3-deep divisions, sessile. Flowers 

 small, yellow. Fruit in globular heads. May. Jn. Round-leaved Croufoot. 



5. R. SCELERA'TUS. 



Smooth; loiver Zcares palmate ; upper ones sessile, digitate; /rj/iZ oblong. 

 Grows in wet places. The stem is much branched, a foot high, round, thick, 

 hollow. Lower leaves more evidently stalked, larger and less deeply divided 

 than the upper ones. Floral leaves (bracts) mostly simple, lanceolate and 

 entire. Flowers numerous, small, yellow. Calyx defle.\ed. This is one of 

 the most acrid of tlie tribe, and will raise blisters upon the skin. Jn. Jl. 



Celery Croicfoot. 



6. R. ACRIS. 



Leaves pubescent, in 3-divisions, incisely cut and toothed, the upper ones 

 linear; s^em erect, many-flowered; f«/(/2; spreading. This is the more com- 

 mon species, variously denominated butler-cups, yellow-weed, i^-c. It spreads 

 rapidly in pastures and meadows, and often becomes an annoyance to farmers, 

 since cattle will not eat it e.xccpt when dry, and even then with little relish. 

 Stem 2 feet high, hollow, branching. Upper leaves in 3 linear, entire segments. 



