6 RANUNCULACE^. 



less divided ; petiole with distinct sheathing base ; blade 

 usually, but not always divided more or less completely 

 into three wedge-shaped segments which again have 

 teeth of various depths. Flowers solitary or panicled at 

 the ends of the stem and leaf-opposed branches. Petals 

 yellow, white, or red, with a small pocket containing 

 honey at the base ; usually with a deep gloss which 

 is supposed to be a protection against scorching by 

 reflecting the heat of the sun. Stamens numerous. 

 Carpels many, one-seeded ; in fruit forming a globular 

 head, and differing in the various species as regards 

 thickness and surface markings. 



A large genus of i6o species, scattered all over the world in 

 temperate climates (in the tropics on mountains). In Britain 

 there are fifteen species, known popularly as Buttercup, Celan- 

 dine, Pilewort, Spearwort, Water-crowfoot, etc. India has about 

 twenty-one species, all but three on the Himalayas ; and none 

 of our three indigenous species occurs north of the Nilgiris. 



Najfted after the Latin RANA, a frog^ because several species grow in or 

 near water. 



Leaves not divided nor deeply cut ; flowers a rich yellow. . . 



R. reniformis. 

 Leaves deeply cut but not to the base of the blade, carpels 



covered with hooked spines ...... R. muricatus. 



Leaves compound or cut to the base into three to five segments, 



which are again cut and toothed. Tufted plant ; leaves 



glossy, their lower sides not whitish ; flowers i inch across. . 



R. subpinnatus. 

 Diffuse plant ; leaves not glossy, their lower sides pale ; flowers 



under ^ inch . R. wallichianus. 



Ranunculus reniformis Wallich 4709 ! ; F.B.I, i 16, 

 VII 4. Perennial herb, stem mottled red and green. 

 Leaves mostly from the ground, rather thick, kidney- 

 shaped or broadly ovate, crenate with red margin and 

 white tips to the teeth, glabrous : stem leaves smaller. 

 Flowers yellow with high gloss. Petals variable in 

 number. Achenes small massed into a compact nearly 

 globular head. t. 4. Wight Ic. t. 75, 111. t. 2. 



