Vor. II.] CROWFOOT FAMILY. 83 
30. Ranunculus muricatus L, 
Spiny-fruited Crowfoot. OM 
(Fig. 1624.) 
Ranunculus muricatus I,. Sp. Pl. 555. 1753: 
Glabrous or sparingly pubescent, branched 
from the base, 1°-2° high. Lower and basal 
leaves on long broad petioles, the blade reni- 
form or cordate-orbicular, 1/-2’ wide, 3- 
lobed, cleft, or crenate; the upper 3-divided, 
cuneate, short-petioled or sessile; flowers 
light yellow, 3/’-5’’ wide, the petals exceed- 
ing the calyx; head of fruit globular, 5’’-6/’ 
wide; achenes flat, densely muricate and 
spiny on the sides, 2’’ long, tipped with a 
stout slightly curved beak of one-half their 
length. 
Also on the Pacific Coast. Native also in Asia 
Waste places, eastern Virginia and_south- 
ward, naturalized or fugitive from Europe. 
and naturalized in tropical America. Summer. 
3 ! 
3 Alt. 
31. Ranunculus arvensis I. Corn 
Crowfoot. Hunger-weed. 
(Fig. 1625.) 
Ranunculus arvensis Yl. Sp. Pl. 555. 1753. 
Erect, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, 
branched above, 1° or more high. Lower 
leaves petioled, the upper sessile, all deeply 
cleft or divided into linear-oblong, obtuse 
cuneate, lobed or toothed segments or the low- 
est entire; flowers 6’/-8’” broad, pale yellow, 
the petals exceeding the sepals; achenes 4-8, 
flattened, margined, spiny-tuberculate on the 
sides, 2’’ long, tipped with a subulate beak 
more than one-half their length. 
In waste grounds, Tom’s River and Passaic, 
N.J., and in ballast about the northern seaports. 
Fugitive from Europe, where it is abundant in 
grain-fields. Called Hunger-weed because sup- 
posed to indicate, when prevalent, a poor crop 
and consequent want. Summer. 
23. BATRACHIUM S. F. Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 720. 1821. 
Perennial aquatic or ditch herbs, with alternate dissected or palmately lobed leaves, the 
segments of the submerged ones often filiform, and solitary rather small white flowers, 
borne on peduncles opposite the leaves. Sepals and petals usually 5. Petals oblong or 
oval, the base sometimes yellowish, the claw bearing a small pit. Stamens several or nu- 
merous. Achenes oblique, compressed, not margined, nearly or quite beakless, tranversely 
wrinkled. [Greek, referring to the aquatic habitat. ] 
_ About 20 species of very wide geographic distribution. Besides the following, 3 others occur 
in northwestern North America. 
Leaves all dissected into filiform segments and lobes. 
Leaves 1'-2' long, flaccid, collapsing when taken from the water. 1. B. trichophyllum, 
Leaves 1' long or less, rigid when taken from the water. 2. B. divaricatum. 
Leaves all reniform or broadly ovate, 3-5-lobed, 5’’-10'' wide. 3. B. hederaceum. 
