80 
the family include the following: Ranunculus aquaticus (sensu 
lato), R. repens, R. flammula, R. arvensis, R. acris, Rk. auricomus, 
bulbosus ; Caltha palustris; Hepatica triloba ; Anemone 
nemorosa ; Thalictrum flavum ; Aquilegia vulgaris ; Anemone 
ranunculoides ; Delphinium consolida ; Myosurus minimus. Some 
“dost occur only in or near the Arctic Zone or near the snow- 
of high mountains; amongst the former are Caltha natans, 
Coptis trifolia, Ranunculus affinis, R. lapponicus, R. Pallasii, 
R. samojedorum, R. sulphureus. Interesting cases of discon- 
tinuous distribution are afforded by Ranunculus pygmae 
Arctic Europe and in S.E. Tyrol (8,000 ft.), and R. hyperboreus, 
Arctic Europe and in the Himalaya (15,000—17,000 ft.). Some 
species occur at very high elevations. Caltha scaposa grows at 
17,000 ft. in Sikkim; Thalictrum squamiferum at 15,500 ft. in 
S.E. Thibet; Callianthemum pimpinelloides at 15,000 ft. in 
Sikkim; Ranunculus similis at 17,500 ft. in Thibet. 
Those genera with highly specialized flowers such as Aquilegia, 
Delphinium and Aconitum, are most abundant in the warm 
temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, especially around 
the shores of the Mediterranean. Delphinium alone penetrates 
into Tropical Africa by way of the high eastern mountains and 
in the Cameroons. 
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Map hareing the approximate distribution of some genera of 
RANUNCULACEAE 
1, PaEOonNrIA. 2. CaLTHA § eatganng trices 3. Soutrea. 4. GLAv- 
ye 5. HELLEBORUS. 6. CopTis. 7. TRAUTVETTERIA. 8. HyDRASTIS. 
. CLEMATOPSIS. 10. Kno ee 11. Hamapryas. 
The Ranunculaceae of the Southern Hemisphere are rather 
peculiar, and a study of their structure and affinities suggests 
that they may be only the remnants of a greater Ranunculaceous 
flora which has almost disappeared. Thus there are remarkably 
distinct species of Anemone in the mountains of South Africa. 
