10 RANUNCULACEJE. [Ranunculus. 



Section 3. Echinel'la. Annual, rarely biennial. Leaves radical and 

 cauline, divided ; stipules inconspicuous. Sepals 5. Petals 5, yellow. 

 Achenes tubercled or spinose, compressed, margin thickened. 



18. 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, achenes tubercled towards the margin, 

 style straight. R. Philono'tis, Ehrht. 



Damp ground from Argyll and Forfar southd. ; rare in Scotland ; not in Ireland ; 

 Channel Islands ; fl. June-Oct. — Hairy. Stems many, 6-18 in. Leaves 

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

 reflexed hairs. Achenes broad, much flattened. — Distrib. Europe, W. Asia, 

 N.Africa. — The earlier names of R. par'vulus, L.,and R. Sardo'us, Crantz, are 

 superseded for being too inappropriate. 



19. 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 gland, with a scale, receptacle hairy, achenes 

 usually covered with hooked spines, style stout hooked. 



Cornfields, from Perth southwd. ; in Ireland near Dublin only ; (a colonist, 

 Wats.) ; fl. May-July. — Nearly glabrous. Stem 6-24 in., solitary. Leaves 

 variable. Flowers % in. diam., pale. Petals suberect. Achenes few, large. 

 — Disteib. Europe, temp. Asia to India, N. Africa. 



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

 reniform 3-lobed, segments toothed, peduncles furrowed, sepals reflexed, 

 petals 3-5 small oblong, gland with an obscure scale, receptacle glabrous, 

 achenes faced with hooked tubercles, style short nearly straight. 



Dry banks, &c, from Durham southwd.; Ireland, rare ; Channel Islands ; fl. 

 May-Aug. — Hairy. Stems and branches spreading, 6-8 in. Leaves divided 

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

 linear lobes. Peduncles leaf-opposed or in the forks. Flmvers g-f in. diam. 

 Achenes small. — Distrib. Europe from Denmark southwd., W. Asia, 

 N. Africa ; introd. in America. 



Section 4. Fica'ria, DC. (gen.). Perennial. Leaves opposite, chiefly 

 radical, entire. Sepals 3-5. Petals 8-12, yellow ; gland with a scale. 

 Achenes small, not beaked. 



21. R. Fica'ria, L. ; leaves cordate obtusely angled or crenate, 

 achenes globose smooth, style minute. Pilcwort or Lesser Celandine. 

 Pastures and waste places, N. to Shetland ; ascends to 2,400 ft. in "Wales : 



Ireland; Channel Islands; fl. March-May. — Glabrous. Root-fhres, stout, 

 cylindric. Stem short, decumbent, branched at the base. Leaves variable ; 

 petiole stout with a base dilated. Peduncles stout, axillary, 1-fld. Flowers 

 about 1 in. diam., bright yellow, sometimes apetalous, proterandrous. Head 

 of achenes globose ; Cotyledon solitary (one suppressed). — Distrib. Europe 

 (Arctic), "W. Asia, and N. Africa. 

 Var. diver'gens, F. Schultz; lobes of lowest leaves not overlapping at the 

 base, lowest sheaths narrow. — Var. incnm'hens, F. Schultz ; lobes of lowest 

 leaves overlapping at the base ; lowest sheaths amplexicaul. 



