788 RANUNCULUS. [CLASS XIII. ORDER III. 



Stamens numerous, witli linear Jtlaments, and oblong anthers, longer 

 than the ovate receptacle. Carpels numerous, obliquely ovate, some- 

 what turgid, transversely wrinkled, hairy, and with a short beak. 



Habitat. — Lake pools, ditches, and running streams ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



3. H. divarica^tus, Schranck. (Fig. 896.) Spreading-leaved Water 

 Crowfoot. Stem floating, obtusely angular ; leaves all submersed, 

 setaceo-multifid, the lacine orbicularly disposed, sessile ; petals five, 

 obovate, longer than the calyx ; carpels hispid ; stigma elongated, 

 obtuse. 



R. circinatus, Sibth. — y. English Flora, vol. iii. p. 55. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 218. 



This is distinguished from the last by its apparently sessile leaves, 

 the short petiole is dilated into a close pressed sub-membranous sheath, 

 hairy or smooth, and scarcely auriculated, the segments are short, 

 much divided into capillary branches, equal in length, and orbicular 

 in their circumscription. The Jioicers are much smaller, the style is 

 elongated and straight. These distinctions we have observed to be 

 constant, but how far they might change by growing the plant in 

 quick running streams we have not had an opportunity of ascertaining. 



Habitat. — Still pools or slow running streams. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



4. R. Jlui'tans, Lam. (Fig 897.) Floating Water Croivfoot. Stem 

 floating, round ; leaves all submersed, setaceo-multifid, the lacine 

 much elongated and waved ; petals oblong, wedge-shaped, from five to 

 ten, longer then the calyx ; carpels smooth ; stigma sessile. 



R.Jluviatilis, Wigg. — R. peucedanifolius, All. — R. pantothrix, De 

 Cand. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 12. — R. aquatilis. — ^. English Flora, 

 vol. iii. p. 55. 



This difi'ers from all the others in having its leaves much elongated 

 into capillary waved lacined segments, the petiole is short, dilated at the 

 base into a narrow membranous sheath, ciliated, and often hispid; the 

 petals are mostly more numerous, the stigma is sessile, obtuse, the 

 carpels are smooth, and the stem is mostly very long and round. 



Habitat. — Streams and rivers; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June- 



The Water Crowfoots are extremely pretty ornamental plants in the 

 drains, pools, and rivers in most parts of this country, and are equally 

 as common in all parts of Europe. They mostly produce a great num- 

 ber of flowers, which, elevated above the surface of the water, are 

 rendered more conspicuous, from their beautiful shining white being 

 in contrast with the dark green of the stem and leaves. It was sup- 

 posed at one time that these plants were equally poisonous as some 

 other of the genus, which does not, however, appear to be the case, as 

 on the banks of the river Avon the cottagers are in the habit of feeding 

 their cattle with them. 



