RANUNCULUS RHEUM. 



stem stalkless, usually only two, 3- to 

 5- parted into linear, entire lobes. Al- 

 pine pastures on the principal great 



mountain chains of Europe. The 



rock-garden and borders, in sandy soil, 

 and associated with dwarf and compact 

 plants. Division and seed . 



Ranunculus parnassifolius (Par- 

 nassia-leaved R.) A distinct and at- 

 tractive kind, with leathery roundish 

 leaves, somewhat like those of a Cy- 

 clamen ; 2 to 8 in. high. Flowers, in 

 early summer; snowy white, some- 

 times tinted with pink, about the size 

 of those of R. amplexicaulis, from 1 to 

 12 on each stem ; stems velvety, and 

 of a purplish hue ; peduncles hairy ; 

 calyx pinkish. Leaves, of a dark brown- 

 ish green, entire, sometimes slightly 

 woolly along the margins and nerves ; 

 root-lea ves stalked, rather heart-shaped, 

 ovate or roundish ; those of the stem 

 stalkless, ovate-lance-shaped. Abun- 

 dant in many parts of the Pyrenees 



and Alps. The rock-garden, in 



moist sandy soil ; and also among the 

 dwarf plants in the choice mixed 

 border. Division and seed. 



Ranunculus rutaefolius (Rue-leaved 

 Crowfoot). Callianthemumrutcefolium. 

 Known at once by its much divided 

 leaves ; 3 to 6 in. high. Flowers, in 

 early summer ; white, with orange 

 centres, about 1 in. across ; the stems 

 usually bearing but 1 flower, but occa- 

 sionally 2 or 3 ; petals 8 or 10, oblong ; 

 calyx smooth. Leaves, much and 

 deeply divided ; root-leaves twice 

 divided. The higher Alps of Europe, 



near the limits of perpetual snow. 



The rock-garden, in moist sandy, or 

 gritty soil. Division and seed. 



Ranunculus spicatus (Spiked Crow- 

 foot). A large and handsome kind; 

 1 to 1 ^ ft. high. Flowers, in spring ; 

 yellow, on erect, few-flowered stems ; 

 calyx reflexed ; carpels in a long spike. 

 Leaves, somewhat hairy, stalked, 



roundish, 3-lobed ; upper ones 3- 

 parted ; lobes linear, entire. Sicily 



and N. Africa. Borders, in sandy 



soil. Division and seed. 



Rhaponticum cynaroides (Artichoke 

 R.) A sturdy perennial, with grace- 

 ful leaves ; about 3 ft. high. Flowers, 

 late in summer ; few, erect, purple ; 

 scales of the involucrum toothed. 

 Leaves, broad, oblong or oval, nar- 

 rowed at the base, pointed at the 

 apex ; the lower ones pinnate ; the 

 upper ones hardly pinnatilid, the divi- 

 sions all fringed with sharp teeth. 



Pyrenees. Among hardy plants 



having fine foliage, isolated in groves, 

 near margins of shrubberies, in bor- 

 ders, and in rough places, in any deep 

 soil. Division and seed. 



Rhaponticum pulchrum (Pretty R.) 

 Another ornamental species ; 2 ft. 

 or more high. Flowers, late in sum- 

 mer ; purplish, solitary, on the sum- 

 mits of the stems, which are leafless 

 in the upper part. Leaves, the radi- 

 cal ones stalked ; those of the stem 

 sessile, all pinnately - cut, smooth 

 above, covered with white down un- 

 derneath, with oval, toothed segments 

 which become confluent at the end. 



Caucasus. Similar positions and 



treatment to those recommended for 

 the preceding kind. 



Rheum Emodi (Red-veined Rhubarb). 

 A noble herbaceous plant, with very 

 handsome foliage ; about 5 ft. high. 

 Flowers, in summer ; very numerous, 

 small, yellowish- white, arranged in 

 long branching clusters. Leaves, alter- 

 nate, very large, long-stalked, with 

 a slightly wrinkled surface, large red 

 veins and somewhat wary edges ; 

 those of the stem gradually diminish- 

 ing in size towards the top. Tartary. 



Isolated in the grass near the 



margins of shrubberies in the pic- 

 turesque garden, or grouped with 

 other fine-leaved hardy plants, in deep 

 rich soil. Division and seed. 



