142 1. RANUNCULACEiE. Ranunculus. 



y. fdiforniis. DC. (R. filiformis. Michx.) St. fililbrm, very long, with 

 linear leaves and small flowers. 



3. R. pusiLLUs. Poir. /?. muticus. T. & G. Puny Crowfoot. 



Erect; Ivs. all petiolate, lower ones ovate, upper ones linear lanceolate; 

 pet. mostly but 3, scarcely longer than the calyx ; carpels ovate, pointless, smooth, 

 in small globose heads. — In wet grounds, N. Y. and Penn. Stems slender, 

 weak, 6 — 12' high, dichotomously branched. Lower leaves subcordate, i—V 

 long, i as wide, petioles 1 — 3" long, upper ones 1 — IJ" long, i as wide, with 

 minute, remote teeth. Flowers very small, yellow, on long peduncles. May, 



4. R. Cymbalaria. Ph. Sea Crovjfoot. 



Very .small, smooth ; sii. filiform, creeping, rooting at the joints; Ivs. reni- 

 form-cordate, crenate-dentate ; ped. solitary, mostly 2-flowered ; pet. spatulate ; 

 ack. oblong. — In salt marshes on the sea-coast, 'N. J. to Arctic Am. and at 

 Salina, N. Y. Stem round, sending out runners from the joints. Leaves radi- 

 cal, J — 1' diam., on long petioles. Scapes 2 — 6' high, each with 2 or 3 small, 

 bright yellow flowers, and as many obtuse bracts. Nectary naked, Jn. 

 * * Leaves divided. 



5. R, ABORTivus, Round-leaved Crowfoot. 



Smooth; radical Z-ys. roundish, cordate at base, crenate, petiolate; cauline 

 Ivs. ternate or pedate, angular, with linear segments, upper ones sessile ; col. a 

 little longer than petals, reflexed.— A very pretty species in woods, Can, to Ark,, 

 remarkable for the dissimilarity of the root and stem leaves. Stem 8 — 16' 

 high, nearly naked. Root leaves 8 — 18" diam., quite regularly margined with 

 crenate divisions, and on petioles 2 — b' long. Lower stem leaves pedate, with 

 a pentangular outline ; upper in 3 deep segments. Flowers small, yello-w . 

 Fruit in globose heads. May. Jn. 



6. R. scELERATUs. Ph. Cclerij Cronfoot. See also Addenda, p. 638, 

 Smooth ; lower Ivs. 3-parted, segments 3-lobed, crenately subincised ; stevi 



Ivs. 3-parted, segments crenately incised, tipper ones simple, lanceolate, entire ; 

 carpels in an oblong head. — Grows in wet places, Can. to Car. Stem rather 

 thick, hollow, much branched, 1 — IJf high. Lower petioles 3 — 5' long, with 

 rather large, palmately 3 — 5-parted leaves. Floral leaves or bracts mostly 

 simple, lanceolate and entire. Flowers numerous, small, yellow. Calyx 

 deflexed. This is one of the most acrid of the tribe, and will raise blisters 

 upon the skin. Jn. Jl. 



7. R. RECUR VATUs. Wood Crowfoot. 



St. erect, and with the petioles, covered with spreading hairs ; Ivs. 3-parted, 

 hairy, segments oval, unequally incised, the lateral ones2-lobed; cgZ. recurved; 

 pet. linear-lanceolate ; ach. uncinate. — About 1 f. high, in damp woods. Lab. 

 to Ga., pale green, branching above. Leaves U — 2' long, 2 — 3i' wide, on peti- 

 oles 3^6' long. Upper leaves subsessile and 3-parted quite to the base. 

 Flowers small, with inconspicuous, pale yellow petals. Carpels ovate, tipped 

 with minute, hooked beaks. May. — Jl, 



8. R. ACRis, Butter-cups. Crowfoot. Yellow Weed. 



St. erect, many flowered ; Ivs. more or less pubescent, deeply trifid, the seg- 

 ments laciniate, upper ones with linear segments ; ped. round ; cal. hairy, 

 spreading; carpels roundish, smooth, compressed; beak short, recurved. — This 

 is the most common species from Penn. to Hudson's Bay, in meadows and 

 pastures, rapidly and extensively spreading. Stem 1 — 2f high, round, hollow, 

 mostly hairy. Leaves 1^ — 3' diam., upper ones in 3 linear segments. Flowers 

 large, golden vellow. Jn. — Sept. 

 /?. Fls. double, the pet. excessively multiplied. — Gardens. 



9. R. BULBosus. Bulbous Crowfoot. (Fig. 39.) 



Hairy ; st. erect, bulbous at the base ; radical Ivs. ternate, Ifts. petiolate, 

 incisely dentate, each about 3-cleft; ped. furrowed; cal. reflexed. — This is 

 another acrid species, very common in pastures, mow-lands, &.c. Root fleshy. 

 Stem leafy, furrowed, 6 — 18' high, hollow, thickened at the base into a sort 

 of bulb, and dividing above into upright peduncles, with golden-yellow flowers. 

 It is well distinguished from R. acris by its reflexed .sepals, and its furrowed 



