53 THE BULBOUS CROWFOOT. 



The Z/eaves are mostly radical, long-petioled, ter- 

 nately divided, with the terminal division stalked, all 

 deeply 3-cleft, and lobed. The venation is plainly reticu- 

 lated. 



The j^ion^ers are singly mounted on long, slender pe- 

 duncles which are grooved or furrowed. The 5 sepals are 

 reflexed—hent backward and downward.* The 5 petals 

 are broad, rounded, shining and golden, forming a cup- 

 shaped corolla. The honey scale at the base of each petal 

 is toothed. The stamens are about 50 ; and the pistils 

 (carpels) about 20, each tipped with a short, sessile, recurved 

 stigma. 



•The ^7mU is a round head of al)out 20 distinct, lens- 

 shaped aclienia, each tijDped with a short beak. 



Plan of the Flower. — While there is only one whorl 

 or circle of sepals (c) and one of petals (/?), there are at 

 least 5 of stamens (s) and 4 of pistils (p). The alternatinr) 

 position of all these organs, so clearly shown in the 

 diagram, is obscured in the flower itself by their crowded 

 condition. Why is the flower symmetrical ? Why is it 

 hypogynous ? 



The Name. — This pretty specimen of Buttercup is 

 appropriately named Ranunculus huWdsus (Linn.) \ — the 

 Bulbous Crowfoot. 



The Record. — The analysis of this plant may be recorded 

 in the accompanying blank tablet, or in one of similar 



* It is noticeable that the green sepals of the Calyx, having acted as nurses and 

 protectors to the petals of the flower buds, are reflected or fall off almost immediately 

 after the flower opens, as if they were anxious not to Interfere with the success of 

 the floral functions by concealing the bright petals from the insect eye. 



+ Of the genus Ranunculus there are 50 species in N. America, and at least 200 in 

 the World. Their prevailing color is yellow, but some are white, as the beautiful 

 R. aconitifolius of the Alps, and the gardens. Another, the splendid R. Asiaticus, is 

 either yellow or crimson on the hills of Palestine. This is the Garden Ranunculus 

 which sports into innumerable varieties of color, with single or double flowers as 

 I^rsre as a Ros^. 



