26 BUTTERCUPS. 



leaves, and grow in marshy places, sometimes even in the 

 water: these are called Spearvvorts, and scientifically 7?. Lingua, 

 R. Flammula, and R. reptans — this last very rare, and only 

 recorded from one locality in Scotland. Then we have the 

 Pilewort, or Lesser Celandine {R. Ficarid), with roundish or 

 heart-shaped glossy leaves, and starlike, equally glossy, flowers. 

 The remaining eight have divided leaves. The Celery-leaved 

 Crowfoot (i?. scelcratus) is marked by its hollow stem ; it 

 grows by or in water, and has small pale yellow flowers in 

 which the oblong head of immature fruit is conspicuous ; this 

 has ver}- glossy leaves, as has also the Wood Crowfoot {R. 

 aun'comus), distinguished by its kidney-shaped root-leaves, and 

 affecting shady places. We may remark, in passing, that R. 

 auricomus, as a rule, has not its full complement of petals, ot 

 rather that they are not fully developed ; three or four attain 

 their proper size, but one or two arc usually either absent, or 

 very diminutive ; this gives the flower an irregular appearance. 

 The Corn Crowfoot (/?. ari'ensis) is an inhabitant of cultivated 

 fields (usually cornfields) ; it is a smooth, upright, pale-green 

 plant, with lemon-coloured blossoms, which are succeeded 

 by large prickly carpels, these at once detennining the species. 

 Another {R. parviflorus) has very hairy leaves, spreading and 

 hairy stems, and minute, almost petalless, flowers ; this grows 

 in dr}' banks, but is somewhat rare. A fifth, R. hirsutus, is 

 even less frequent ; it is an annual species, and grows in 

 cultivated fields or on waste ground ; we shall have occasion 

 to refer to it again. 



We have now but three species to consider — known indis- 

 criminately as Buttercups. IMany, doubtless, are not aware 

 that there is more than one species comprehended under that 

 name : and yet, although there is a general likeness among 

 them, a ver>' little examination will show us ver}- evident 

 points of difference. 



When the meadow grass is beginning to shoot up, while 

 the primroses still linger on the banks ; when the cowslips 

 are just bursting into blossom, we shall find the Buttercups 

 beginning to show themselves. Here and there a flower 

 expands, and, if we look down among the grass, we are sure 

 to see in every direction the soft, hairy, cut leaves, and among 

 them soft, hairy, green buds ; giving promise of the wave of 

 gold which will, in a week or two, pass over, the meadow land, 



