CLASS XIII. ORDER 111.] RANUNCULUS. T03 



peduncles round, hairy. Calyx hairy, of five oblong spreading seg- 

 ments. Petals roundish, wedge-shaped, or cordate, with a short claw^ 

 and nectariferous scale. Stamens numerous, with oblong anthers. 

 Carpels numerous, smooth, in a round head, lenticular, compressed, 

 with a short slightly curved beak. 



Habitat. — Fields, pastures, &c. ; very frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



This possesses very acrid properties, producing, when bruised and 

 applied to the skin, inflammation, blisters, and ulceration, and was 

 formerly used for this purpose in diseases where counter irritation was 

 indicated ; but from its frequently producing sores, which are difficult 

 to heal, it is now quite out of use. 



12. R. re'pensy Linn. (Fig. 906.) Creeping Crowfoot. Leaves ter- 

 nate or bi-ternate, the leaflets three lobed or three-partite and cut, the 

 radical ones with long channeled petioles, the upper nearly sessile ; 

 stem erect, with creeping scions from the base, many flowered, the 

 peduncles furrowed; calyx spreading; carpels numerous, in a round 

 head, lenticular, compressed, smooth, 



English Botany, t. 516.— English Flora, vol. iii. p. 51.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 219. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 11. 



Root with numerous stout branched fibres, from a tuberous base. 

 Stem erect, about a foot high, branched, and putting out long creeping 

 scions from the base, which spread around, and put out roots from the 

 joints. Leaves numerous, the lower and radical ones with long chan- 

 neled petioles, dilated and sheathing at the base, and like the rest of 

 the plant more or less thickly clothed with close pressed hairs, leaflets 

 three, the two lateral ones shortly petiolated, the central one with a 

 much longer one, three-partite or three-cleft, cut and toothed, paler 

 beneath and veiny, the upper leaves nearly sessile, with the leaflets on 

 long slender partial footstalks, the floral ones linear. Flowers mostly- 

 numerous, a bright golden yellow, on furrowed hairy peduncles. Calyx 

 of five ovate hairy spreading segments. Petals roundish, heart-shaped, 

 with a short claw, and oblong nectariferous scale. Stamens numerous, 

 with yellow oblong anthers. Carpels numerous, in a round head, 

 smooth, lenticular, compressed, \\ith^ a slight punctated margin, and 

 flattened curved beak. 



Habitat. — Pastures and waste places ; very frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering from June to August. 



This is a very common and variable plant, the radical leaves are 

 mostly marked with a black or dark brown spot in the middle. The 

 flowers are sometimes found double, and frequently the seeds are not 

 perfected, a circumstance of common occurrence in plants which in- 

 crease by other means. 



13. R. bulbo'sus, Linn. (Fig. 907.) Bulbous Crowfoot, or Butter-cup. 

 Leaves ternate, or bi-ternate, the leaflets three-cleft, or three-partite. 



