6 KANUNCULACE^:. (CKOWFUOT FAMILY.) 



5. TRAUTVETTERIA, Fisch. & Mey. 



Sepals 3-5, orbicular, imbricated in the bud, caducous. Petals none. 

 Stamens indefinite. Ovaries numerous, 1-ovuled. Achenia capitate, 4-angled, 

 beaked by the hooked persistent style. Seed erect. Perennial herbs, with 

 alternate palmately lobed leaves, and corymbose white flowers. 



1 . T. palmata, Fisch. & Mey. Stem 2 - 4 high ; leaves divided into 

 5-9 serrate and toothed lobes, the lowest 4-6' wide, loug-petioled. 

 Mountains, also dry pine woods, W. Florida. 



6. MYOSURUS, L. MOUSE-TAIL. 



Sepals 5-7, imbricated, spurred at the base. Petals 5-7, linear-spatulate. 

 Stamens 5 - 20 Ovaries numerous, 1-ovuled. Achenia 3-angled, imbricated 

 on the spike-like receptacle. Seed suspended. Small annuals, with linear 

 radical leaves, and a small yellowish flower on a naked scape. 



1. M. minimus, L. Scape 2'- 6' long, longer than the leaves; achenia 

 beakless. Augusta, Georgia ; Nashville, Tennessee. 



7. RANUNCULUS, L. CROWFOOT, BUTTERCUP. 



Sepals 3-5, regular, herbaceous, imbricated in the bud, deciduous. Petals 

 3-10, with a pit or scale at the narrowed base. Stamens mostly numerous. 

 Ovaries few or numerous, 1-ovuled. Acheuia capitate, compressed, mostly 

 beaked by the short persistent style. Seed erect. Herbs. Leaves alternate, 

 the lowest petioled. Flowers axillary or corymbose, white or yellow. 



1. Petals with a pit at the base, white ; achenia rugose. 



1. R. aquatilis, L. var. trichophyllus, Gray. Aquatic, filiform, 

 immersed; leaves petioled, divided into very numerous capillary segments; 

 peduncles opposite the leaves. Slow-flowing streams in the upper districts, 

 Pursh. June -August. 



2. Petals yellow, with a small scale at the base. 

 * Achenia muricate ; annuals. (Introduced.) 



2. R. parviflorus, L. Softly villous, much branched, J - 1 high : 

 lower leaves round-cordate, 3-lobed, toothed, the upper 3-parted or entire ; 

 flowers small ; petals 3 - 5, as long as the sepals ; styles recurved. Roadsides 

 and waste ground. April - May. 



3. R. muricatus, L. Nearly glabrous; stem 1-1| high; petals 5, 

 longer than the sepals ; styles straight ; achenia strongly margined ; other- 

 wise like the preceding. Waste ground, Charleston (Elliott). April - May. 



* * Achenia smooth ; chiefly perennials. 



4 Leaves undivided, denticulate or entire, lanceolate, the lower broader and 



petioled ; flowers small. 



4. R. ambigens, Watson. Stem 1- 2 long, ascending, rooting at the 

 lower joints ; flowers 3"- 5" wide, the petals longer than the calyx ; acheuia 

 tumid, slender-beaked. (R. alismsefolius, Gray.) Wet banks, chiefly in the 

 upper districts. Leaves 2' - 4' long. 



