RANUNCULACEAE 



29 



The flowers observed by Lindman on the Dovrefjeld were at first protogynous, 

 afterwards becoming homogamous. Their diameter was 5-22 mm. In that region 

 flies, and a Lepidopterid, were observed as visitors. 



Warnstorf (Verh. bot. Ver., Berlin, xxxviii, 1896) observed in individual flowers 

 at Ruppin though only very rarely that certain stamens bore a papillated 

 stigma at the tip. Pollen-grains yellow, tuberculated, very irregular, usually rounded 

 tetrahedral, varying in size up to 43 /x. in diameter. 



According to Focke (Abh. nat. Ver., Bremen, xii, 1891), Ranunculus auricomus 

 is self-fertile. 



Visitors. In north and central Germany the following have been observed 

 by Herm. Miiller (H.M.) and myself (Kn.). A. Coleoptera. 1. Meligethes, po-dvg. 

 (Kn.). B. Diptera. (a) Muscidae : 2. Anthomyia radicum L. 5 and $, particularly 

 freq. (H. M.) ; 3. Lucilia caesar L., po-dvg. (Kn., Kiel.) ; 4. Scatophaga merdaria F., 

 skg. and po-dvg. (H. M.). (5) Syrphidae : 5. Cheilosia vernalis Fall., po-dvg. (H.M.); 

 6. Eristalis tenaxZ., po-dvg. (Kn., Kiel); 7. MelanostomamellinaZ., po-dvg. (Kn.,H.M.); 

 8. Pipizella virens F., po-dvg. (H.M.). C. Hymenoptera. (a) Apidae : 9. Andrena 

 fulvescens Sm. $, skg. (H. M.) ; 10. A. parvula K. 5, po-dvg. (Kn., H. M.) ; 11. Apis 

 mellifica L. $ , po-clg. (Kn., Kiel) ; 1 2. Halictus albipes F. 5, po-clg. (H. M.) ; 13. H. 

 cylindricus F. $, ditto (Kn.). (5) Formicidae : 14. An ant, nect-lkg. (Sprengel, 

 H. M.). D. Lepidoptera. Tineidae: 15. Micropteryx calthella L., skg. (H. M.). 

 E. Thysanoptera. 16. Thrips (Sprengel, H. M.). 



Warnstorf observed numerous pollen-devouring beetles on the flowers at Ruppin. 

 In Dumfriesshire (Scott-Elliot, 'Flora of Dumfriesshire/ p. 4) 2 Muscidae, and a 

 beetle have been observed as visitors. 



FlG. 9. Ranunculus auricomus, L. (after Herm. Miiller). 1-8. Petals with nectaries of various 

 forms. 9. Petals of Eranthis hiemalis, for comparison. 



64. R. amoenus Ledeb. This arctic species (Siberia, Dahuria, Spitzbergen) 

 which belongs to the auricomus group flowers in Spitzbergen from the beginning 

 of July until August or September, and regularly sets fruits. The bright yellow 

 corolla has a diameter of 15-20 mm. The few stamens (6-8) are closely applied to 

 the lower part of the gynoecium, the stigmas of which are therefore easily self- 

 pollinated, while the upper ones are cross-pollinated by insects (Andersson and 

 Hesselman, ' Bidrag till Kanned. om Spetsbergens o. Beeren Eil. Karlvaxtflora,' 

 PP- 53-4)- 



65. R. arcticus Richards, var. Wilanderi (Nath.) Freyn. This species flowers 

 in Spitzbergen during the middle of July and beginning of August, and sets fruits. 

 The corolla has a diameter of 1 7-5-2 15 mm. 



