X 
GLEANINGS AND ORIGINAL IfEMORANDA 
M7 
360. Ranunculus spica- 
Tus, Desfontaines . [alias Ea- 
nunculus Olyssiponensis Per- 
soon,) A yellow-flowered hardy 
perennial^ wdth the aspect of a 
common meadow Crow^foot. 
Native of Algiers, Flowers in April. 
In the too great admiration of tropical 
botany, the hardy herbaceous plants of cooler 
regions are often lost sight of. The present 
Ranunculus has a place probably in few gar- 
dens, yet would prove an ornament to any, 
with its large showy and peculiarly glossy 
bright flowers, which moreover appear as 
early as April. It was first detected and 
described by Desfontaines as a native of 
Algiers, where it appears to be very common 
on the hills. Wepossess specimens also from 
Gibraltar, gathered by our friend Dr.Lemann. 
Like other species of Crowfoot, it is liable to 
vary in size and in the outline of its leaves ; 
but our figure well represents the ordinary 
appearance of the species. The specific name 
is best understood at a later period, when the 
receptacle of capsules runs out in a long 
cylindrical spike. Hoot grumose, consisting 
of a dense cluster of fusiform fleshy fibres or 
tubers mixed with many capillary roots. Stem 
a foot or more high (less in its wild state), 
hirsute with short spreading soft hairs. Leaves 
more or less hairy : the lower ones on long 
f^rx 
280 
