24 RANUNCULACE^. 



ing, but rather smaller. It is a very free and continuous bloom- 

 ing plant, and worthy of a place among the most select mixed 

 border-plants. Flowers from the end of June till the end of 

 August. 



R. asiaticus {ConwwJt Ga7'den Rainmculus). — The varieties 

 of this species have already been somewhat remarked upon. 

 They are very numerous ; ancient florists used to boast that R. 

 asiaticus was more numerous in varieties than all other flowers. 

 They are not so now, and the trade in namicd sorts is very 

 trifling ; the demand is more for colours separately and in mix- 

 ture than for fine named sorts. The colours are exceedingly 

 various, and the modes of arrangement of the colours nearly as 

 varied as the colours. 



R. bulbosus flore-pleno (Bulbtis B utter ciif). — The original 

 of this form is also a native of Britain, though not so plentiful, 

 especially in Scotland. It grows about a foot high, having the 

 stems thickened at the base into a bulb-like process. The 

 leaves are small, divided into three lobes, which are much cut. 

 The flowers are produced in less profuse panicles than those of 

 R. acris, but are rather larger, and bright yellow. 



R. gramineus flore-pleno {^G^-ass-leaved Buttercup). — This is a 

 very distinct and pretty plant, well worth a place in the mixed 

 border or on rockwork. It grows from 9 inches to i foot high; 

 the leaves mostly proceed from the roots, and are grass-like in 

 form, and pale glaucous green. The stems are slender but 

 erect, and almost leafless, and produce a few beautiful golden- 

 yellow double flowers. Flowers in April and May. Native of 

 Europe. 



R. aquaticus ( Water-Ranunculus). — There are many forms 

 of this species found in ditches, streams, ponds, and marshy 

 places in Britain. It is the large-flowered floating variety, not 

 so commonly found in nature as some of the others, that I would 

 recommend here. In it the flowers are white, borne on large 

 stalks, and the leaves are all submerged, and very delicately cut 

 into long parallel segments. The manner in which the leaves 

 are cut distinguishes it from another variety with the leaves 

 finely divided, but in which the segments spread irregularly 

 in all directions ; both are very ornamental in water. The first 

 noticed affects running streams in nature, and would be most 

 at home in such in cultivation ; the other is more generally 

 found in deep still waters, and would be most useful for intro- 

 ducing into ponds and lakes \ but both are alike useful for the 

 latter purpose. They flower from very early summer till very 

 late. There are many very interesting alpine species suitable 



