ORDER I. EANUNCDLACE^. 205 



Leaves all petioled, radical ones palmately 3-parted, lobes toothed, the 

 apper 3-cleft, with the lobes nearly entire, linear-lanceolate. Flou^cn 

 opposite the leaves, on long slender peduncles. Carpels compressed, 

 margined, with beak broad, nearly straight. — May. Swamps. Cur. 

 and Geo. 



9. R. His'piDUS, (Mich.) Ste7n erect, branching, 12 — 18 inches high. 

 Leaves 3-cleft or 3-parted, segments oval, acute, toothed. Petioles 

 covered with dense expanding hair. Radical leaves, with segments 

 generally separate, hairy. Floiocrs generally on long peduncles, covered 

 with appressed hair. Petals much larger than the calyx, obovate. 

 Carpels with a short straight point. — Rich, shaded soil. May — June. 



10. R. recurva'tus, (Poir.) Stem erect, 12 — 18 inches high, clothed 

 with spreading hairs. Leaves 3-parted, but not to the base, villous, 

 sometimes nearly glabrous, hair appressed, segments broad, ovate, 

 acutely serrate, lateral ones 2-lobed. Floioers small, on short pedun- 

 cles, calyx refiexed, petals narrow-oblong, smaller than the sepals. 

 Carpels in a globose head, with a hooked point. "Woods. July. 



11. R. Pennsylva'nicus, (L.) Stem erect, strong, branching, 1 — 2 

 feet high, hispid, with stiff spreading hairs. Leaves ternate, villous, 

 hairs appressed, petioles covered like the stem, lower ones on long 

 petioles, leaflets petiolate, lanceolate, incised. Flowers small, calyx re- 

 flexed, sepals much larger than the petals. Carpels compressed in an 

 ovate head, smooth, with a sharp point. — July. In the upper districts 

 of Geo. and Car. 



12. R. TOMENTo'sus, (Poir.) Stem short, ascending at the summit, 

 covered with dense soft expanding hair, 1 or 2-flowered. Leaves 3- 

 parted, segments 3-lobed, ovate, dentate, tomentose, hair appressed, 

 upper leaves sessile, ovate, entire. Petals obovate. Sepals villous, 

 nearly as large as the petals. — Upper districts of Car. and Geo. 



c. Carpels tubercled or prickly. 



13. R. murica'tus, (L.) Stem erect or procumbent, 12 — 18 inches 

 high, branching, succulent, pilose. Leaves glabrous, petioled, sometimes 

 entire, sometimes 3-cleft even to the base, lobes toothed, floral ones ob- 

 long or lanceolate, entire, lower ones slightly cordate, shining, toothed. 

 Peduncles opposite the leaves, about 1 inch long. Petals obovate, 

 longer than the calyx. Sepals reflected, lanceolate. Carpels with a 

 thick margin, tuberculate, aculeate, with a straight or slightly hooked 

 beak. — ©. In cultivated laud. March — May. 



14. R. Parviflo'rus, (L.) Stejn erect or slightly decumbent, 12 — 15 

 inches high, slender, villous. Leaves orbicular, 3-lobed or tornate, 

 notched, pubescent. Peduncles opposite the leaves, short. Flowers 

 small. Petals 3 — 5, equal to the sepals. Srpals reflexed. Carpels 

 with thin margin, tubercled, with a hooked point. — May. 



The Eanunculi are distinguished for an exceedingly acrid juice, which is so volatile 

 that drying or infusion in water renders plants, whicli otherwise act as a powerful 

 epispasiics, perfectly inert. Some of these plants have been used for drawing blister?, 

 and for the want of the Spanish tlies, may be used with advantage, although, from 

 their powerful action, should be used with care. The K. Sceleratus will produce « 

 blister in an hour and a half. 



