DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 23 
thick, and evergreen. Flowers single, on rather slender 
hairy scapes. 
a. (H. TrrLoBA), Rounp-LoBeED Hepatica. Lobes of the leaves 
obtuse or rounded; those of the involucre obtuse ; sepals 6-12, vary- 
ing from blue to white. 
b. (H. AcuTILOBA), SHARP-LOBED Hepatica. Closely similar 
to the former, except for the acute lobes of the leaves and tips of the 
involucre. 
~ 
Ill. RANUNCULUS, CROWFOOT, BUTTERCUP. 
Sepals 5. Petals 5, each with a little nectar-secreting 
seale or gland at the inside of the base. Akenes in a head, 
numerous, usually flattish. Stem-leaves alternate, the bases_ 
often clasping. (Fig. 70.) Flowers generally yellow. 
a. (R. ABORTIVUS), SMALL-FLOWERED Crowroot. Very smooth 
and slender; the first root-leaves crenate; petals pale yellow, even 
shorter than the small reflexed calyx. 
b. (R. RECURVATUS), HookEep C. Hairy, 1-2 ft. high; leaves 
all long-petioled, 3-cleft and with wedge-shaped, 2—3-lobed divisions ; 
akenes with long, recurved beaks; petals pale, shorter than the 
reflexed calyx. 
c. (R. SEPTENTRIONALIS), CREEPING Burtrercup. Low, with 
ascending stems, especially in wet ground, sending out runners 
during the summer, but flowering on more or less upright shoots in 
spring; leaves 3-divided, with wedge-shaped or ovate divisions ; 
flowers yellow, rather large and showy. 
d. (RK. BuLBosus), Butsous Butrercup, Earty BUTTERCUP. 
Stem upright, from a solid bulb about as large as a filbert; leaves 
much divided and cut; petals large, roundish, bright yellow. The 
most showy of all the buttercups. Not common, except in Eastern 
New England. 
IV. CALTHA, MARSH MARIGOLD. 
Sepals petal-like, 5-9. Petals none. Pistils 5-10, each 
consisting of a one-celled ovary with a nearly sessile stigma. 
Fruit a many-seeded follicle (much like that of Fig. 171). 
(C. paLustris), Cowstips, Meapow Burrercup (both unsuit- 
able names, but in common use). Stem hollow, smooth, ascending ; 
leaves smooth, roundish and heart-shaped, or kidney-shaped, with 
crenate, dentate, or nearly entire margins; the broad oval sepals 
bright yellow. Swamps or wet ground. 
