N. ORD.-RANUNCULACE. 
GENUS.—RANUNCULUS, LINN. 
SEX. SYST.—POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 
O» 
RANUNCULUS ACRIS. 
TALL BUTTERCUPS. 
SYN.—RANUNCULUS ACRIS, LINN ., RANUNCULUS PRATENSIS ERECTUS 
ACRIS, GERARDE. 
COM. NAMES.—TALL BUTTERCUPS OR CROWFOOT, UPRIGHT BUTTER- 
CUPS OR CROWFOOT, ACRID BUTTERCUPS, BLISTHRWEED, YEL- 
LOW PILE-WEED, BUR-WORT, MEADOWBLOOM;; (FR.) RENONCULE 
ACRE; (GER.) SCHARFHAHENFUSS. 
A TINCTURE OF THE WHOLE FRESH PLANT, RANUNCULUS ACRIS, LINN. 
Description.—This erect, perennial herb attains a height of from 2 to 3 feet. 
Root fibrous, from a slightly tuber-like crown. Stem subcylindrical, hollow, hairy, 
and branching above. Leaves 3-divided, the divisions all sessile, 3-parted, and 
clothed with more or less rigid hairs; segments of the lower leaves cut into lan- 
ceolate, closely-crowded lobes; of the upper linear, and sometimes entire ; petioles 
of the radicle and lower stem leaves long and hairy, upper cauline leaves some- 
times sessile. Inflorescence axillary and terminal; flowers nearly as large as those 
of R. bulbosus (5), but not so deep a yellow. Ca/yx spreading, villous, much 
shorter than the corolla. Petals obovate, bright yellow. Filaments short; anthers 
incurved. /yuzta globular head; carpe/s numerous, lenticular and smooth; deak 
short and recurved. Read description of the genus, under Ranunculus scelera- 
tus, 3; and the natural order, under Pulsatilla Nuttalliana, 1. 
History and Habitat.—This species of the genus has become quite widely 
distributed in this country since its introduction from Europe. It flowers from 
June until August. This plant, when past its flowering season, is often mistaken 
for Geranium maculatum, 32,* both on account of its vulgar name, crowfoot, and 
from a similarity in the foliage. 
The medical and general history, and the chemistry and action, of the differ- 
ent species of Ranunculus are generic rather than specific. I give a digest under 
R. sceleratus, 3. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole fresh herb, gathered in 
October, should be chopped and pounded toa pulp and pressed out in a piece 
eras 
* Williams and Partridge, Bost. Med.and Surg. Four., March, 1838. 
