CROWFOOT FAMILY. Ranunculacese. 



The stem of this species is generally 



Meadow Rue stained with madder purple, but sorae- 



Thaiictrum times it is green with only a slight ma- 



purpurascens genta tinge in parts. The leaves are thick, 



Green-purple d ee p blue-olive green and similar in shape 



to those of the preceding species. The 



flowers are green, with a brown-purple tinge, and are 



also polygamous. 3-6 feet high. On the borders of 



wooded hills, and copses, in dry situations. Middle N. 



Eng., south, and west to S. Dak., Neb., and Ariz. 



_i_' . , An insignificant marsh species closely 

 Water Plantain ... ^ , ... F .. _ 



Spear wort allied to the buttercup, with yellow flowers 



Ranunculus f inch broad, the 5-7 petals rather narrow. 



ambigens The lance-shaped leaves almost if not quite 



Yellow toothless, and clasping the jointed stem, 



which often sends out roots from the 

 joints ; the lower leaves contracted into a broad stem 

 clasping the plant stem. l-2£ feet high. Common in 

 wet places, from Me., south to Ga., and west to Minn, 

 and Mo. Name from the classic Rana, a frog, referring 

 to the marshy home of the genus. 



Rather an attractive biennial species, 

 Crowfoot commonly found beside the woodland 



Ranunculus brook, the lower leaves of which are some- 

 abortivus what kidney-shaped, and the upper ones 



Yellow slashed like those of the buttercup, but 



very moderately so ; the leaves bright 

 green and smooth. The small flowers with globular 

 heads, and reflexed or drooping yellow petals ; the head 

 about \ inch broad. 6-24 inches high. In shady and 

 moist ground, everywhere. The var. eucyclus (Fernald) 

 is a common form in Me., N. H., and Mass., with slender 

 and zigzagged stem, and thin leaves, the lower, rounded 

 ones with narrowed cleft ; the flowers are smaller. 

 Found at Amnion oosuc Lake, Craw T ford Notch, by J. 

 M. Greenman, and at Orono, Waterville, and Dover, 

 Me., by M. L. Fernald. (See Rhodora, vol. i., p. 52.) 



138 



