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Ranunculus lapponicus is a perennial, creeping herb. The 

 pale, horizontal stem which creeps in the moss dies away at 

 the hinder end but keeps on growing sympodially by means 

 of the principal bud situated in either the uppermost leaf-axil 

 or the one below it. Above the principal bud the main axis 

 becomes negatively geotropic, bends upwards, and produces a 

 flower. 



Fig. 41. B. lapponicus. (Spitzbergen; 15.7.1882). 



A, O/i), The flowering axis bears the leaves In, In-i, In-2; the last two subtend 



vegetative buds which bear the leaves Hi and Ha ; the uppermost lateral axis 



may be regarded as a principal bud. B, A foliage-leaf (Vi). 



The first stage of the plant is probably similar to that of 

 R. reptans: a rosette of leaves upon a short vertical rhizome 

 and a prostrate main axis which gives off roots from the nodes. 

 This main axis no doubt soon becomes independent as the 

 rosette dies, and then it continues its growth as described 

 above. The filiform roots which arise from the nodes are 

 usually unbranched and may be very long, as much as about 



