8 RANUNCULACE^E. [RANUNCULUS. 



furrowed, sepals spreading hairy, receptacle slightly hairy, achenes com- 

 pressed glabrous margined, style hooked. 

 Waste ground ; ascends to 2,700 ft. in the Highlands ; fl. May- Aug. Root- 



ttock stout, short. Stem 8 in. -2 ft. Leaves petioled, triangular or ovate ; 



segments variable, middle usually longest. Flowers 1 in. diam. J'ttut* 



generally sub-erect. DlSTBLB. Europe (Arctic), N. and W. Asia, N. Africa ; 



introd. in America. 



11. R. bulbo'sus, L. ; perennial, hairy, erect, stem swollen at the base 

 without runners, leaves 3-foliolate or ternatisect, segments lobed, peduncles 

 furrowed, sepals reflexed and receptacle hairy, achenes compressed glabrous 

 margined, style short hooked. 



Meadows, &c.; ascends to 1,500 ft. in the Highlands ; fl. May-June. Stem 6-12 

 in., base often as big as a walnut, sometimes corymbose above. Leaves 

 variable in form and lobing. Flowers -1 in. diam. DlSTKiB. Europe, 

 Asia, N. Africa ; introd. in America. 



SECTION 3. Echinel'la. Annual, rarely biennial. Hoots fibrous. Leaves 

 radical and cauline, divided ; stipules inconspicuous. Sepals 5. Petals 5, 

 yellow. Achenes tubercled or spinose, compressed, margin thickened. 



12. R. hirsu'tus, Curtis; erect, leaves 3-lobed or -partite, segments 

 obtuse cut, peduncles furrowed, sepals reflexed hairy, petals with a scale 

 over the gland, receptacle hairy, acheues tubercled 'towards the margin, 

 style straight, It. Phil&no'tis, Ehrhart. 



Waste damp ground from Argyle and Forfar southwards ; rare in Scotland ; 

 absent in Ireland; fl. June-Oct. Hairy. Stems many, 6-18 in. Leaven 

 variable in lobing. Flowers about 1 in. diam., peduncles with spreading or 

 reflexed hairs. Achenes broad, much flattened. DISTRIB. Europe, W. Asia, 

 N. Africa. 



13. R. arven'sis, L. ; erect, lowest leaves obovate or cuneate toothed, 

 upper 3-partite or -foliolate, segments narrow cut, peduncles not furrowed, 

 sepals spreading, petals with a scale over the gland, receptacle hairy, 

 achenes usually covered with hooked spines, style stout hooked. 

 Cornfields, from the Forth and Clyde southwards, in Ireland near Dublin 



only; a colonist, Watson; fl. May-July. Nearly glabrous. Stem 6-24 in., 

 solitary. Leaves variable. Flowers % in - diam., pale. Petals suberect. 

 Achenes few, large. DiSTRLB. Europe, temp. Asia to India, N. Africa. 



14. R. parviflo'rus, L. ; stems slender decumbent, leaves orbicular or 

 reniform 3-lobed, segments toothed, peduncles leaf-opposed or in the forks, 

 furrowed, sepals reflexed, petals 3-5 small oblong, gland with au obscure 

 scale, receptacle glabrous, achenes faced with hooked tubercles, style short 

 nearly straight. 



Dry banks, &c. from Durham southwards; S. and E. of Ireland, rare ; fl. May- 

 Aug. Hairy. Stems and branches spreading, 6-18 in. Leaves divided to 

 the middle or less, lowest often entire, uppermost more deeply cut into 

 linear lobes. Flowers 1-^ in. diam. Achenes small. DISTRLB. Europe from 

 Denmark southwards, W. Asia, IS'. Africa ; introd. in America. 



SECTION 4. Fica'ria, Dillen. (gen.). Perennial. Leaves chiefly radical, 



