RANUNCULACE^. 18 



13. R. AQUA'tILIS. L. R. Fluviatilis. IV. 



Stc7ns submerged, filiform; leaves all capillary-dicliotomous. In ponds 

 and slugoish streams, where the whole plant is submerged with the exception 

 of the flowers. Stem long, slender, weak, round, smooth. Leaves alternate, 

 divided in a dichotomous ujanner into innumerable, hair-like segments. Pe- 

 duncle.? opposite the bracts. Flowers yellowish white. Tiiis species is hardly 

 distinct from the preceding. Jl. Aug. River Crowfoot. 



14. R. Asia'ticus. 



Leaves ternate and biternate ; segments toothed or cut, trifid ; stem erect, 

 simple or branched; fruit in a cylindrical spike. Native of Levant. This 

 popular and splendid flowering s])ecies has been cultivated for centuries in the 

 gardens of Europe, and has become frequent in those of this country. Under 

 cultivation it sports into innumerable varieties, chiefly double, of every con- 

 ceivable, variegated hue. More than 800 varieties have been named in Euro- 

 pean catalogues. Indeed the varieties raised from seeds may be said to be 

 endless, since no two plants will flower alike, or like the original. Favorite 

 sorts must bo propagated by oSsets, and will generally blossom the first year. 

 It prefers a rich loamy soil, well manured Vi-ith fine rotten compost. The 

 roots are to be planted in Nov. Seeds sown in April. The plant grows 1 — 2 

 feet high, leafy, branches from the middle, bearing several flowers, which are 

 not untrequently inches in diameter. May. Jn. Garden Ranunculus . 



5 . C L R' M A T I S . 



Calyx 4 — S-sepaled ; corolla 0: achenia with along, plu- 

 mose Cauda. 



Gr. x.Xrifjucc, a tendril; the species are perennial, climbing herbs. Sep. 4, 

 rarely 5. C or 8, colored, oblong, lax, pubescent. Fil. numerous, shorter than 

 calyx. Ova. 4 — 20. Sty. longer than stani. Achen. tailed with the long, 

 perm, style. 



1. C. Virginia'na. 



Climbing; leaves ternate; leaflets ovate, cordate, cut-dentate and lobed : 

 fioioers dicecious. A very common, hardy, climbing plant, found in shady 

 thickets. Stem many feet in length, supporting itself on fences and bushes 

 by means of its long, opposite petioles, which serve as tendrils, twining around 

 twigs, &LC. Flowers white, in large, axillary, dichotomous panicles. The 

 seeds when ripe are furnished with long, plumose tails (cauda;.) appearing in 

 large downy tufts. Aug. Virgiiis Boicer. 



2. C. Vio'rna. 



Climbing; leaves compound and decompound; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute at each end, trifid and entire ; flowers solitary , campanula tc ; sepals thick, 

 leathery, acuminate. A twining vine a dozen feet in length, cylindric. striate. 

 Leaves opposite, stalked, composed of !i or 12 leaflets v.'iiich are arranged iis 

 3s. Flowers purple, axillary. Peduncles long, with a pair of simple leaves 

 in the middle. Fruit with long, plumose taila. Jn. Lcuthcr-floicer. 



». C. CRISPA. 



Climbing; Zfares pinnate and ternate; ^rc//?(?/s divaricate, ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute, 3-lobed or entire; /'oic^r*- solitary ; se/za/.f acuminate, revoliite, with un- 

 dulated margins. Stem twining, C — 8 feet long. Flower large, pale purple, 

 bell-shaped, the sepals approximate in their lower part, and spreading or revo- 



