rPKK.HT Ml.ADOW CROWI'OOT 7 



t1<i\vrr-lieads .uuiui^sl tin- shoi-ur lurliau;^. rvvv and anon s\\a\in^' 

 willi the rhythm of the lircc/c ( )ii ihc higher slopes ihc nest likr 

 clusters of white bloom varied with pink of the Wild Carrot, are 

 scattered commonly whtre the 1 )e\ il's-hii Scabious rears its heliotrope 

 head in the meadows laid to hay, while on the lawn and in the fields 

 the lowly Daisy preaches eternally a sermon in mute obeisance, with 

 all nature spread out as a book, " wliieh he wlio runs may rcatl ". 



Yarrow and Ox-eye Daisy, common but beautiful, make up many 

 a posy in the boy or girl schooldays. Knapweed, busby-like in 

 flower, the golden Dandelion, wlili its old-workl "clocks", the early- 

 blooming Goat's-beard, Cowslips that reek of anise, the ([uaking, 

 shivering Yellow Rattle, purple .Self-heal, the daint\' purple and spotted 

 orchids, ami the Pm-ple Crocus are all found here. 



Upright Meadow Crowfoot ( Ranunculus acris, L.) 



The deposits in which seeds of this species have been found are 

 post-Roman. It occurs in the Arctic and Cool Temperate Zones in 

 Arctic Europe and .\. Asia, and has been introduced into America. 

 It is found in every jjart of Creat Britain, as far north as the Shetland 

 Isles, and up to a height of 4000 ft. in the Highlands of Scotland. It 

 is common in Irelantl and the ("hannel Islands. 



Flvery meadow, whether it be upland or kiuland, tlr\' or wet, 

 nourishes a goodly numlx-r ol indi\iduals cjt the tall-flowered, upright- 

 growing Crowfoot, which stands out in such contrast to the lowlier 

 grass stems and leaves around. Owing to its acrid properties it is 

 usually avoided by cattle, hence this marked contrast. As a rule it 

 likes flat expanses best, and as far as experience goes it is more 

 uniformly dispersed over dry soils, being thus a xerophile. 



The Upright Meadow Crowfoot is similar in hal)it to Ooldielocks, 

 but is taller. There are few flowering stems, ami the leaves are 

 chiefly at the base, lying close to the ground, and are usually little 

 variable but much divided. The tall, erect stems distinguish it from 

 the other .species "\ IWuiercup. 



The root is fibrous, but more rolaist than that of ( joldiekjcks. 1 he 

 flowering stems are unfurrowed, whereas in the Bulbous Crowfoot 

 they are furrowed. The long flowering stems, which are downy, 

 and the finely-divided root-leaves help to distinguish it. 



The sepals are spreading, the honey-gland is provided with a 

 scale, and the carpels are smooth. 



This buttercuj) grows to a height of 3 ft., flowers from April to 



