469 



high, and very bushy. It differs from T. majus, Jacq.^ in the lateral 

 branches of the petioles leaving the main branch at acute, not at right, 

 angles. I have seen the true T. majus, Jacq., on the banks of Loch 

 Tay, but have not seen the fruit of it, which is also said to afford a 

 distinctive character. See Bab. Man. 3rd edit. p. 4. 



2. Ranunculus aquatilis, 1j. [Varieties). — I have dried a series of 

 these, which may be divided into the following forms : — 



* Receptacle globose ; stigma round, 

 t Petals large, contiguous ; floating leaves usually present. 



(1). heterophyllus, Bab. Carpels attenuated, not rounded at the 

 apex ; upper margin rounded. As this is the most common form in 

 this country, I thought it needless to dry many examples of it, as it is 

 well known by botanists. 



(2). suhpeltatus, Bab. Carpels rounded at the apex, with the 

 upper margin nearly straight, and terminated by the stigma. I sent 

 this from the Castleton of Braemar, Aberdeenshire, and the Down, 

 near Dollar, Clackmannanshire. 



ft Petals small, not contiguous ; floating leaves absent. 



(3). trichopJiyllus, God. This has the peduncles much shorter than 

 in the preceding forms, and the carpels more numerous. My speci- 

 mens are from a pond close by the sea at Guillon, Haddingtonshire. 



** Receptacle ovato-conic ; stigma ligulate. 



(4). confusus, Or. & G. Stamens longer than the head of carpels, 

 which are attenuated towards the apex (Duddingston Loch) ; floating 

 leaves rarely present, and only when growing in very shallow water, 

 their segments much narrower than in heterophyllus and subpeltatus; 

 peduncles very long ; carpels numerous. 



(5). Baudoiii, God. ? I have great doubts as to the correctness of 

 the label of this form. It differs from the last in having the stamens 

 much shorter, but does not agree with Baudotii in having the carpels 

 rounded at the apex, for in my plant they are very like those of con- 

 fusus. It seems to be quite intermediate between Baudotii and con- 

 fusus of the ' Flore de France.' Mr. Babington considers it confusus ; 

 but he had only imperfect and withered specimens, which I sent him 

 by post, to judge from. The specimens were obtained fi'om the same 

 pond as those of trichophyllus, mentioned above. 



3. Draha verna, L., /3. inflata, Hook. — Pleatiiul in debris at the base 



