186 HOW TO STUDY PLANTS. [LESSON 30. 



536. The arrangement of the species of Ranunculus is to be 

 found, under the proper number, 7, on p. 37 and the following. 

 The first section contains aquatic species ; ours is terrestrial, and in 

 all other particulars answers to 2. The smooth ovary and akene, 

 and the perennial root refer it to the subsection following, marked 

 by the single star. The shape of the leaves excludes it from the 

 +- Spearwort Crowfoots," the large and showy petals from the 

 +_ 4- Small-flowered Crowfoots ; while all the marks agree with 

 +- H- H~ BUTTERCUPS or COMMON CROWFOOTS. There is still 

 a subdivision, one set marked, " ++ Natives of the country, low or 

 spreading" the other " -*-i- -n- Introduced weeds from Europe, com- 

 mon in fields, 8?c. : stem erect : leaves much cut," which is the 

 case. We have then only to choose between the two field Crow- 

 foots, and we have supposed the pupil to have in hand the lower, 

 early-flowered one, common at the east, which has a solid bulb or corm 

 at the base of the stem, and displays its golden flowers in spring or 

 earliest summer, and which accordingly answers to the description 

 of RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS, the BULBOUS BUTTERCUP. 



537. Later in the season it might have been J2. acris, the Tall 

 Buttercup, or much earlier R. fascicularis, or R. repens. Having 

 ascertained the genus from any one species, the student would not 

 fail to recognize it again in any other, at a glance. 



538. If now, with the same plant in hand, the Manual (Fifth 

 edition) be the book used, the process of analysis will be so similar, 

 that a brief indication of the steps may suffice. Here the corres- 

 ponding Analytical Key, commencing on p. 21, leads similarly to 

 the first Series, Class, Subclass, and Division ; to A, with nume- 

 rous stamens; 1, with calyx entirely free and separate from the 

 pistil or pistils, thence to the fourth line beginning with the word 

 Pistils; thence to the third of the three subordinate propositions, 

 viz. to " Stamens inserted on the receptacle " ; to the second of the 

 succeeding couplet, or " Filaments longer than the anther"; to the 

 second of the next couplet, " Flowers perfect," &c., and to the first 

 of the final couplet, " Leaves not peltate ; petals deciduous," which 

 ends in " RANUNCULACE^E, 34." This is the technical name of the 

 family, and the page where it is described. 



539. Turning to that page we read the general description of that 

 order, particularly the portion at the beginning printed in italics, 

 which comprises the more important points. The " Synopsis of the 



