DICOTYLEDONS 



39 



meadows. Such mishaps occurred, for example, 

 in the village of Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire. It 



Fig. lo. Ranunculus Flammula ; Spear-wort. 



is easily recognized as having a flower like that of 

 a common buttercup, only smaller, being about half- 

 an-inch in diameter when fully expanded. More- 

 over its foliage is very different from that of any 

 field buttercup. 



Lesser Celandine (R. Ficarid). — This species 

 differs from other buttercups in having heart-shaped, 

 smooth leaves, a corolla of several (about seven or 

 eight) petals and only three sepals. It is a familiar 

 plant, flowering in early spring. It is scarcely 

 poisonous when young, for in Germany the roots 

 are eaten as a salad ; but later it becomes so. 

 Heifers have been poisoned by it. 



It is to be noted that the strength of the acrid 

 principle varies according to locality and season. 



