34 



flora indtca. [Rannnculacea \ 



chiefly in the very small glabrous achenia, which are exactly the same as those of R. 

 jmlchellus, to which plant the present bears a striking resemblance in general habit, 

 notwithstanding the great difference in the shape of the leaves. We retain it as dis- 

 tinct from R. affinis, not only on account of a certain difference of habit, but because, 

 if united to it, it will be necessary to reduce the next species also. We have ascer- 

 tained, by an inspection of the original specimens, that R. jpedatifidus of Smith is 

 the same as R. amcenus, Ledeb. 



12. R. hirtellus (Boyle! 111. 53); foliis radicalibus reniformibus 

 3-partitis vel segmentis lateralibus ad basin fere fissis pedatim 5-par- 

 titis, sepalis adpressis, acheniis in capitulum ovatum vel oblongum col- 

 lects obovatis compressis utrinque convexis. — E. laetus, Wall. Cat. 

 4702 C. ex parte. R. attenuatus, E. nervosus, et E. Choorensis, Boyle! 

 III. 53. 



Hab. In sylvis umbrosis Himalaya occidentalis temperatse, alt. 7— 

 12,000 ped.: a Kaslimir ad Kumaon : et in pratis subalpinis et alpinis 

 usque ad 14,000 ped. Forma parviflora latifolia in Himalaya exteriori 

 vulgaris, angustifolia in sylvis interioribus, humilis foliis multifidis in 

 alpibus. — (FL per totam sestatem.) (v. v.) 



Herla perennis, pluricaulis, adpresse pubescens vel glabrescen9, radice fibrillosa. 

 Caules c collo plures, |— H-pedales, ssepius elongati, basi nudi, apice ramosi. Folia 

 radicalia sa^pe longe petiolata, circumscriptione rotundata vel reniformia, tenuia, 

 nervosa, pilis sericeis adpressis utrinque vestita, rarius glabrescentia, diametro 1-3- 

 pollicaria, ad basin fere tripartita, segmentis lateralibus bilobis oblique ovalibns, ter- 

 minali late cuneato-trilobo, omnibus argute inciso-dentatis; seu pedatim 5 -partite, 

 lobis oblongis indivisis, apice tridentatis vel acute palmatim inciso-multifidis. Folia 

 caulina palmatim 3-5-partita, segmentis cuneatis trifidis vel tridentatis 1-1^-polli- 

 caribus. Flores |-f -pollicares, in spec, alpinis majusculi. Sepala ovalia, adpressa, 

 pilosa. Petala obovata, sepalis duplo longiora. Achenia in capitulum ovale collecta, 

 obovata, subcompressa, immarginata, rugosula, dense pilosa vel glabra. 



Variat — 1. grandiflorus et parviflorus; 2. foliornm lobis integris, inciso-dentatis vel 

 palmatim partitis; 3. acheniis tomentosis vel glaberrimis; 4. caulibus elongatis 

 erectis multifloris, vel abbreviatis diffnsis 1-paucifloris. 



After a careful comparison of very extensive suites of specimens of the numerous 

 forms which we have here united under one name, with previously-described Euro- 

 pean species, we have been unable to identify our plant with any, though certain 

 states of this very variable plant certainly approach very near to some forms of 

 both R. auricomus and R. affinis. That the hairy and glabrous fruited states of the 

 Indian plant belong to one species we do not in the least doubt, these variations 

 bearing no definite relation to the differences in the shape of the leaves. We believe 

 therefore that all the forms which occur in the wooded region of the Himalaya are 

 referable to one very variable species. With regard to the alpine forms we are less 

 certain, as our specimens, though numerous, are destitute of good fruit, without 

 w h\oh it i« imnnwrihlfi satisfactorilv to determine the affinities in this very difficult 



genus 



R. auricomus 



niformibus vel tripartita crenatis, caulinis digitatim partitis, segmentis 

 linearibus integris vel inciso-serratis, acheniis velutinis in capitulum glo- 

 bosum collectis orbicularibus subcompressis anguste marginalia stylo 

 uncinato apiculatis.— DC. Syst. i. 266, Prod. i. 34 ; Leddour, Fl. lloss- 

 i. 38 ; Torrey et Gray, Fl. N. Am. i. 17. B« cassubicus, L.; DC. Syst. 



et Prod. I. c.; Ledeb. I. c. 



Hab. In montibus Afghanistan, Griffith! (ex spec, imperfect.) 



