8 RANUNCULACEiE 



R. pinnatus I have ventured to call it a variety, naming it after Mrs. Evershed 

 of the Observatory, Kodaikanal, who first showed me the plant. But it 

 is just possible that this is a new species. 



Ranunculus wallichianus Wight and Arnott ; Wight 

 Herb. Prop. ! ; F.B.I, i 20, VII 19 ; common Buttercup. A 

 gregarious herb spreading by runners, with soft not 

 glossy leaves, and small flowers. Roots thin and fibrous. 

 Radical leaves digitately trifoliate, not glossy above, 

 light green below, sparingly hairy on both sides and 

 soft to the feel ; leaflets deeply cut into three segments 

 which are again cut and toothed, the teeth pointing 

 forwards rather than outwards and not ending in firm 

 points. Flowering stems 3 to 4 inches only, their lower 

 leaves three-fid but upper entire. Pedicels J^ to I inch- 

 Sepals reflexed. Corolla J^ inch. Achenes orange- 

 tipped, with distinct margin and few and conspicuous 

 warts on the sides. 



Easily distinguished from R. subpinnatus W.& A. by 

 the diffuse habit, softer leaves, smaller flowers, reflexed 

 sepals, and shorter pedicels, t. 6. Wight Sp. Nilg. 

 t. 5, Ic. t. 937. 



In cool shady spots, very common, in and about both 

 Ootacamund and Kodaikanal, and all over the two plateaus. In 

 damp places succulent. Fyson 360, 797. Bourne 233, 4.600. 



Gen. Disi. Mountains of South India and Ceylon. Allied to R. arvensis 

 {Eng. Corn Celandine ; Fi . Ren depres) and also to the next species. 



Ranunculus muricatus Lirm. ; F.B.I, i 20, VII 20 ; 

 distinguished by its deeply slit leaves and by the 

 conspicuous spines on the comparatively large and flat 

 achenes. A much larger plant than the two preceding, 

 running to 2 feet in height. Radical leaves long stalked ; 

 blades roundish cut to below the middle, but not to the 

 base, into three lobes which are again cut in three or 

 more teeth. Flowers terniinal and leaf-opposed ; pedicels 

 ^ to I inch. Achenes 1/5 to J4 inch, with strong margin, 



