28 flora indica. [Ranunculacea . 



diametro -^-1-uncialia, basi cordata, profunde crenato-lobata, vel triloba, lobis cre- 

 natis. Scapi 2-4-unciales, debiles, 1-flori. Flores 0. glacialis sed paullo majores, 

 diametro unciales. Petala oblonga, spathulata, fovea nectarifera parva ec&Uosa. 

 Achenia prions. 



8. CERATOCEPHALTJS, Mamch. 



Sepala 5, decidua. Petala 5, fovea nectarifera impressa. Achenia 

 supra receptaculam spicuta, basi utrinque gibba, apice longe rostrata. 

 Semen erectum, — Herb® annua acaules, Ronbxxsjlabis. 



A genus consisting of one very variable species, which is a native of the Mediter- 

 ranean region of Europe and the corresponding climates of Asia. As a genus it is not 

 sufficiently distinct jrom Ranunculus, with which it is connected by means of R. 

 oxyspermus, Willd., and R. oriental is, L., which have long-beaked fruit. When 

 the family is again monographized it will probably be reduced, but the sections of 

 Ranunculus will at the same time require a thorough revision. 



1. C.falcatus (Pers. Syn. 341).— DO. Prod. i. 26; Ledeb. PL 

 Ross. i. 26. C. Orthoceras, DO. Prod. i. 26; Deltas. Ic. Select, i. L 

 23 ; Led. PL Poss. i. 26. Ranunculus falcatus, L. Sp. 781 ; Schlecht. 

 Anim. Pan. 6. 



Hab. In graminosis siccis montium Indira boreali-occidentalis : Be- 

 luchistan ! Afghanistan ! Kashmir ! Kishtvvar ! — (Fl. vere.) (v. v.) 



Distrib. Europa austr. 1 Asia tempcrata ! 



Herba pusilla, tenuiter toraentosa vel rarius glabra. Petioli sursum dilatati. 

 Folia ternatisecta, segmentis linearibus Bfepe bifidis, interdum pinnatisecta. ^ Scapi 

 plures, 1-flori, 1-2-unjcialcs. Flores 2-3 lineas lati. Sepala 5, oblonga, plurinervia. 

 Petala icquilonga, obovata, trinervia, flava, fovea nectarifera minuta. Achenia in 

 spicam oblongani fere uncialem disposita, rostro recto vel falcato. 



We have examined a great number of authentic specimens of the two species 

 usually distinguished, from all the countries in which they occur, and find the shape 

 and size of the beak of the fruit very variable, as is also the amount of development 

 of the crest on its dorsum. We have, therefore, no hesitation in adopting Schlech- 

 tendal's opinion, and uniting the two supposed species. All the forms occur in In- 

 dian specimens, and it is not uncommon to find on the same individual both glabrous 

 and hairy spikes. 



9. RANUNCULUS, L. 



Sepala 3-5, decidua. Petala 5-15, basi fovea nectarifera impressa. 

 Achenia in spicam vel capitulum collecta, stylo brevi apiculata. Semen 

 erectum. — Herba; annua vel perennes, scepius caulescentes, floribus albis 



veljlavis. 



This very large genus has representatives in all parts of the globe. The tropical 

 species are very few, and chiefly marsh-plants; but in all parts of the temperate 

 zone, and at considerable elevations in the torrid zone, its species are numerous, 

 some growing in water or in marshy places, others in pastures or in woods, while 

 many of the smaller kinds are found to extend into the arctic zone, or to rise on the 

 mountains to the uppermost limits of vegetation. Being in general widely diffused, 

 and capable of existing under very different circumstances, the species are extremely 

 variable, and in consequence very difficult of determination and definition ; the shape 

 of the leaves in particular varies much. In the great majority the leaves are pal- 



