Mffosurus.'] ^ I. iiANUNCULACE,E. g 



specimens often deficient. Stamens usually 4 or £, and seldom above 10. 

 Achenes sometimes near 300, the head lengthening into a ?pikc of 1 to 2 

 inches^ which has been compared to a mouse's tail. — F. Mnell. PI. Vict. i. 4 ; 

 A. Gray, Gen. 111. t.'S •" 3L audralis, F. Muell. in Trans. Phil. Soc. Yict. i. 6. 



Victoria. Moist places near permanent waters, or open places where rain-water lodges 

 from time to time, F. Mueller, 



The species is widely spread over EuropCj temperate Asia, northern and western America, 

 and may possibly have been introduced into Australia, 



■ 



4. EANUNCULUS, Linn. 



Sepals usually 5, deciduous. Petals as many or more, usually marked with 

 a small nectariferous pit, or a minute scale near the base. Carpels several, 

 with a single ascending ovule in each. Achenes in a globular or ovoid head 

 or oblong spike, tipped or beaked by the persistent hooked or straight style. 



Herbs either annual or with a perennial rootstock, and tufted entire or 

 variously cut radical leaves. Flowering stems either a leafless scape, or several- 

 flowered, bearing few leaves and chiefly at the base of the peduncles. Flowers 

 yellow, white, or red. 



A large genus abounding in the temperate and colder regions of both the northern and 

 southern hemispheres, but more especially in the former, and almost confined in the 

 tropics to the higher mountain ranges. The Australian species have no peculiar character, 

 hut belong to the three principal sections of the genus, and two at least are specifically iden- 

 tical with widely-spread northern species. 



Sect. 1, Batrachium. — Carpels iransversehj wrinkled. JFater-plants with iheir 

 leaves when suh merged finely divided into segments. Flowers white. 1. U. aquatilis. 



Sect. 2. Hecatonia. — Carjpels smooth, Ferennkils (in AnstraliaJ with a tufted 

 rootstock, or creeping or floating stolons. Flowers white or yelloic. 



Radical leaves pinnate, with narrow-linear" entire or divided, rather 

 distant segments. 

 Eootstock a'cluster of short thick fibres. Stems mostly 2-flowered, 



longer than the leaves. (Fl. yellow?) %. R. Rohertsoni, 



Kootstock tufted with long fibres. Scapes 1-flowcrcd, shorter than 



the leaves. Fl. white ► • • ^, R. Millani, 



l^adical leaves orbicular, with nnmerons overlapping lobes. Stem- 



leaves similar but sessile. Flowers large, white 4. i^. anemonem, 



Kadical leaves with numerous narrow-linear segments, pinnate but 



crowded at the top of the petiole. Flowers yellow. 

 ^ arpcls numerous, tapering into a beak either straight or slightly 

 hooked. Petals narrow, often more than 6. 



Sepals from f to nearly as long as the petals 6- -S. Gunnmnus. 



Sepals not half so long as the petals 6. 5. dtssecdfohus. 



t^arpels with a much recurved point. Leaf-segments less crowded. 



Petals usually 5, obovate 1. RM^paceus.x^. 



Radical leaves pinnate, with flat segments or digitate. Flowers yellow, 

 sterns tufted or erect or decumbent, without stolons. Petals 

 usually 5. 



•Calyx appressed or spreading, not reflcsed. 



Carpds with a much recurved point. Plant hispid, or silky 



hairy, or nearly glabrous. Leaves pinnatisect, or 3- to 5- 



lobed. or entire 7. ^2- hmcea^^ 



Carpels numerous, tapering into a straight or slightly hooked 



beak. Leaves thick, entire or 3-Iobed, silky underneath, ^ ^ „ ,, . 



with long tubercular hairs above ^. R. Mucllen. 



