Ranunculus. RANUNCULACE^E. 13 



1 - 3-flowered ; petals spatulate, longer than the calyx. — Pursh, fl. 2, p. 392 ; Bigel. ft. 

 Bost. p. 225 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 1.^. 11 ; Torr. <^ Gr.fl. N. Afn. 1. p. 19. R. Cymba- 

 laria, ^. Americana, DC. prodr. \.p. 33. 



Scapes 2-6 inches high, with one or two minute linear leaves. Stolons extensively creep- 

 ing. Radical leaves smooth, somewhat fleshy, about half an inch broad ; petioles 2-4 

 inches long. Flowers about a third of an inch in diameter. Sepals oval, concave. Petals 

 5-8. Carpels ovate, acute, compressed, with several elevated ribs, disposed in dense oblong, 

 heads. 



Salt marshes on the seacoast of Long Island; also about the salt works of Salina and 

 Syracuse. July — September. 



* *' 

 • »♦ Leaves more or less divided. 



6. Ranunculus abortivus, Linn. Kidney-leaved Crowfoot.. 



Smooth ; radical leaves on long petioles, reniform or broadly ovate and subcordatc, crenate, 

 sometimes 3-cleft ; cauline ones 3 - 5-parted, with linear-oblong, nearly entire segments ; 

 sepals reflexed, longer than the petals ; head of carpels globose or ovate. — Pursh, fl. 2. p. 

 392; DC. prodr. 1. p. 34; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. I. p. 14 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest.p. 328; Torr.: 

 4- Gr.fl. N. Amer. I. p. 19. 



Plant very smooth, shining. Root consisting of thick tufted fibres. Stem simple or 

 branching, about a foot high. Radical leaves 1-2 inches in diameter. Flowers 2-3 lines 

 in diameter. Sepals ovate, obtuse, yellowish. Petals pale yellow, with a conspicuous trun- 

 cate and pouch-like scale. Carpels roundish, margined, pointed, with a very short straight 

 style, smooth and shining. 



A common species in rocky woods, meadows, etc. ; beginning to flower towards the end of 

 April, and continuing through May. Fr. June - July. 



7. Ranunculus sceleratus^ Linn. Celery-leaved Crowfoot. 



Smooth ; leaves petioled, 3-parted, radical ones- with the divisions 3-lobed and obtusely 

 incised, the upper cauline ones with oblong-linear nearly entire lobes ; sepals reflexed, about 

 equal to the petals ; carpels minute, scarcely mucronate, disposed in oblong cylindrical heads. 

 — Pursh, fl. 2. p. 393 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 34 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 59 ; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. I.p.l5; 

 Darlingt. fl. Cest.p. 339; Torr. 4- Gr.fl. N. Amer. I. p. 19. 



• Plant pale green. Stem thick and rather succulent, fistulous, very leafy, branching. 

 Leaves 1-3 inches long, with spreading narrow segments : petioles dilated and sheathing at 

 the base. Flowers small. Petals pale yellow, with a roundish nectariferous pore on the 

 claw. Carpels a hundred or more, forming a head which is sometimes an inch in length. 



A common plant in low grounds and ditches ; flowering from May to August. A native 

 also of Europe. 



