N. ORD.-RANUNCULACEA, 5 
Tribe.—RANUNCULEA. 
GENUS.—RANUNCULUS, LINN. 
SEX. SYST.—POLYANDRIA POLYGYAMIA. 
RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. 
BULBOUS BUTTERCUPS. 
SYN.—RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS, LINN. 
COM. NAMES.—BULBOUS CROWFOOT OR BUTTERCUPS, BUTTER-F'LOW- 
ER, KING’S CUPS, GOLD CUPS, ST. ANTHONY’S TURNIP OR RAPE; 
(GER.) KNOLLINGER HAHNENFUSS. 
A TINCTURE OF THE WHOLE FRESH PLANT RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS, LINN. 
Description.—This erect, hairy herb grows to a height of about 1 foot. Svems 
many, volute, villous, from a bulbous, onion-like base. eaves all ternately divided 
to the very base, especially noticeable in the radical ones, all appearing more or 
less pinnate ; leaflets short, cuneate, cleft and toothed, the lateral sessile, the termi- 
nal stalked, all 3-parted. Aeduncles furrowed. Petals 5 or more, round, cuneate 
at the base, bright glossy yellow, much longer than the calyx. Calyx reflexed. 
fruit in a globular head; achenia ovoid, flattish, and tipped with a very short 
beak. Read description of Ranunculus, under &. sceleratus, 3. 
History and Habitat.—Bulbous Crowfoot is an immigrant from Europe, now 
pretty thoroughly established along the Atlantic coast, in some places being an 
actual pest in meadows and pastures; it has not extended far inward, but seenis 
decidedly prone so to do. It blossoms northward from May to July. 
This species, being one of the more acrid of the genus, and of frequent occur- 
rence in the East, has been used, like R. sce/eratus, as a local irritant where vesica- 
tion seemed necessary; its use was often prolonged’ to ulceration, from which — 
severe cases of gangrene sometimes resulted.* a 
‘This was the officinal species of the U. S. Ph., now dismissed. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole fresh plant while in flower 
in the month of June, is treated as in the preceding species. The resulting tincture 
has a clear, light yellow color by transmitted light, a slightly sweetish then acrid 
taste, and a strongly acid reaction. : 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—So far no analysis has been made of this 
Species to determine (should such exist) a specific principle that might differ from 
the general constituents of the acrid Ranunculi as given under XR. sceleratus, 3. 
* The general uses of the Ranunculi will be found under R. sceleratus, 3, where special mention is made of the 
various species, a 
