8 



BRITISH BOTANY. 



Seldom observed in flower or fruit in the South of England. 

 In rivers and running streams. 



Var. terrestris, Coss. et Ger. Leaves thicker^ and enlarged at 

 the apex. Banks of rivers, sandy shores. 



Var. heterophyllus. Upper leaves floating, 3-5-parted, with 

 deeply cuneate segments. 



R. aquatilis, Lin. in part. — E. B. 101. Coss. et Ger. t. 2. 

 f. 3, 4, 5. L.B. S. H. 11. 



A. general, 18. C. 81. Lat. 50-60°. Alt. 0-350 yds. Tern. 52-43°. 



Stems variable in length, floating or submersed, or prostrate 

 and rooting. Leaves not uniform ; the lower leaves divided into 

 numerous capillary segments, which spread widely in all direc- 

 tions ; the upper ones reniform, more or less deeply 3-5-parted, 

 with triangular or ovate, crenulate or notched lobes. Stipules 

 of upper leaves adnate nearly throughout. Petals obovate, much 

 longer than the sepals. Carpels rarely glabrous, generally rough. 



Ponds, ditches, and similar places. Per. ; April-August. 



Var. a. heterophyllus, Willd. Upper leaves roundish, reniform, 

 more or less deeply 3-5-parted; lower leaves capillary. 



Var. /S. peltatus, Fries. Floating leaves peltate, and bearing 

 axillary flowers. 



R. confasus. Nob. Peduncles twice the length of those of 

 R. aquatilis, attenuated above, and much longer than the leaves. 

 Submersed leaves not collapsing, nor forming a pencil when taken 

 out of the water ; floating leaves deeply divided into 3 cuneate 

 segments. Petals obovate, narrow, not contiguous. Carpels at- 

 tenuated at the summit, and with a rather longer apiculus (point) 

 than in R. aquatilis. 



Supposed to have been gathered on the coast of Hampshire or 

 of Sussex. Per. ; June. 



Sect. II. Ranunculus. — Terrestrial or aquatic plants, never submersed nor 

 floating. Petals yellow (white in R. alpestris), with a scale over the pore. 

 Carpel smooth or tubercular, rarely wrinkled, with a compressed border, 

 which is rarely wanting. 



§ Leaves entire, or toothed, not parted. 



R. gramineus, Lin., was reported from Wales many years ago, 

 and is figured in E. B., fig. 2306. Its characters are as fol- 

 lows : — Root short, vertical, with radical fleshy fibres, crowned 

 by the decayed persistent leaves. Stem 4-12 inches, erect, one- 

 flowered or few-flowered. Leaves linear or lanceolate, tapering 



