BANUNCULACEAE 5 



growing in bunches, but only one stem from a root Peduncles often thickish. 



Pdals scarcely longer than the calyx. 



Hob. Wet meadows, along French Creek : rare. Fl. May. Fr. June, July. 



f f Lower leaves undivided, or merely deft: Petals scarcely as long as the sepals. 



5. R. al>ortlvu ? L. Glabrous ; radical leaves roundish-cordate, 

 or reniform, stem-leaves mostly 3-parted; carpels with a minute 

 curved beak. 



ABORTIVE RANUNCULUS. 



Stem usually 9 to 15 inches high sometimes 2 feet, or more, branched above. 

 Radical leaves on petioles 4 to 6 inches long. Peduncles opposite the leaves, stout, 

 1 to 3 or 4 inches long. Flowers small. 

 Hob. Moist woods, and meadows : common. Fl. April, May. Fr. June, July. 



6. R. recurvfltllS, Poir. Hirsute; radical and stem-leaves 

 nearly alike, deeply 3-cleft; carpels conspicuously beaked by the 

 recurved style. 



RECURVED RANUNCULUS. 



Stem 9 to 15 inches high, branched and leafy at summit. Leaves somewhat pen- 

 tagonal in their outline, the radical ones on petioles 3 to 6 inches long. Flowers 

 Inconspicuous, at first nearly sessile among the leaves. 

 Hab. Moist woodlands: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. June. 

 f. R. scelertitus, L. Glabrous; radical leaves 3-cleft, rounded, 

 the segments cuneate, upper stem-leaves with sub-linear lobes ; 

 carpels pointless, in cylindric heads. 

 HURTFUL RANUNCULUS. Celery-leaved Crow-foot, 



Stem 12 to 18 inches high, thickish, fistular, branching and often dichotomous at 

 summit. Floivers small. 

 Hal. Wet ditches, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. May, Aug. Fr. July, Sept 



Obs. A very acrid species, which Dr. GRAY suggests may have 

 been introduced; and I strongly incline to the same opinion. 



f f f Leaves ternately divided : Petals much longer than the sepals. 



8. R. fascicularis, Muhl. Silky-pubescent; root a fascicle of 

 thick fleshy fibres ; radical leaves ternately or quinately dissected, 

 appearing pinnate ; carpels scarcely margined, tipped with a slen- 

 der, rather curved, beak. 



FASCICLED RANUNCULUS. Early, or Cluster-rooted Crow-foot. 



Stem 3 or 4 to 12 or 15 inches high, cespitose, commencing to flower young, sub- 

 sequently elongated. Radical leaves on petioles 3 to 8 inches long ; leaflets cuneate- 

 oblong, the lateral ones mostly petiolulate, and rather remote from the 3-parted 

 terminal one. 

 Hab. Rocky, open woodlands: frequent. Fl. April, May. Fr. June. 



9. R. rr pens, L. Stems ascending, often forming runners ; car- 

 pels strongly margined, pointed with a stout straightish beak. 

 CREEPING RANUNCULUS. 



Stem 1 to 2 feet long, at first erect, finally extending into procumbent runners 

 with assurgent branches, more or less hairy. Leaves ternate, on long hairy peti- 

 oles; leaflets trifid, on short petiolules. Carpels obovate, with a margined beak. 

 Hob. Moist, shaded grounds : frequent. Fl. May. Fr. June. 



