Section IV 

 YELLOW TO ORAN(;ii TLOW LkS 



MEADOW BUTTERCUP 



Ranunculus acris. Crowfoot Familv 



Stems : erect, hairy, branched above, roots fibrous. Leaves : l)asal 

 ones tufted, petioled, three-to-seven parted, the divisions sessile and 

 cleft into numerous narrow acute lobes; upper leaves three-parted. 

 Flowers: numerous; petals five, yellow, conspicuous. Not indii^enous. 



Every child knows and loves the ])ri,<;ht yellow flowers of 

 the common Buttercup. Ever)- child has suni;- of 



" Buttercups and daisies. 



And all the pretty flowers. 

 Growing in the sunshine 

 To tell of happy hours.'' 



Yet the Rajuoiculus acris is the enem\- of the farmer. 

 Cattle will not eat of its acrid leaves, and e\en the hanils of 

 man are frequently scarred and blistered b\- the caustic juices 

 contained in the stalks and leaves of this plant. Hii^h up in 

 the mountains, however, where the 



" Buds of yellow hue 

 Do paint the meadows with delight," 



we welcome these brilliant l^uttercups ; tbere the\ can harm 

 no one, but onl\- i)]ease the e\e with their tinel\- dissected 

 foliage and tall-stemmed golden flowers. 



If you cut vertically through the middle of tbi> Kafununliis, 

 you will find that its receptacle is a long cone, from which the 

 five green sepals, the fi\e \ellow petals, the numerous stamens, 



-5'> 



