1498 



RANUNCULUS 



They are not hardy, at least not in any of the northern 

 states. The tubers should be carefully lifted after the 

 foliage has all "ripened off" (which occurs usually 

 toward the end of August), and stored until the follow - 



2075. Ranunculus amplexicaulis (X %) 



ing spring in some cool shed where they will not freeze. 

 They should be planted as soon as the frost is well out 

 of the ground in spring, about 2 inches in depth and 

 about 6 inches apart, making the soil very sandy on top 

 so that the leaves will push through readily without 

 heaving the soil. Like their congeners the European 

 Ranunculi, they like plenty of moisture at the roots dur- 

 ing the growing season, and if they can be shaded from 

 the sun when in flower their blossoming period will 

 be materially lengthened. They may also be grown for 

 flowering in the greenhouse. The writer usually grows 

 a few pans each year, planting the roots in pans of light 

 soil towards the end of January and placing them in the 

 coolest greenhouse, where they will blossom towards 

 the middle of April. The writer also prefers the Tur- 

 ban varieties, since they are stronger-growing and rather 

 larger than the Persian. The species may be propa- 

 gated by seeds, but this process is not worth while for 

 most people because the bulbs may be procured so 

 cheaply. 



Of the native and European species of Ranunculus, 

 those of the Batrachium section, such as R. aquatilis 

 and its varieties, are interesting aquatic plants, while 

 R. repens, var. flore plena, and R. amplexicaulis are 

 useful as subjects for the bog garden. 



For herbaceous borders or moist corners in the rock 

 garden R. aconitifolius, var. flore plena, R. cortuscefo- 

 lius, R. anemonoides, R. parna.isifolius and R. Ficaria 

 are the only species worth growing. These are readily 

 propagated from seeds or by division of the plants in 

 spring- EDWARD J. CANNING. 



INDEX. 



(See also the supplementary list.) 



RANUNCULUS 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. Lvs. entire: blades of stem-lrs. 



amplexicaul: fls. white 1. amplexicaulis 



AA. Lvs. somewhat lobed or divided. 

 B. Fls. yellow (except in some 

 double terms- of R. Asiaticus). 

 C. Foliage much lobed and 



parted into linear segments. 2. adoneus 

 cc. Foliage with rather broad 



lobes or divisions. 

 D. Plant spreading by runners 



or rootstocks. 

 E. Akene s compressed, 



margined 3. repens 



EE. Akenes turgid 4. inontanus 



DD. Plant not spreading by run- 

 ners nor rootstocks. 



E. Roots decidedly bulbous.. 5. bulbosus 

 EE. Roots not bulbous. 



F. Plants very low and 



glabrous 6. Suksdorfii 



FF. Plants usually much 

 taller and more or less 

 hairy. 



G. Fruit borne in a spike. 1. Asiaticus 

 GG. Fruit borne in a 

 globose or oval head 

 H. .Beak of akene as 

 long as the body, 



straight 8. orthorhynchuB 



HH. Beak of akene 

 nearly as long as 

 the body, but re- 

 curved 9. cortussefolius 



HHH. Beak of akene very 



short. 



i. Upper stem - Irs 

 wanting: petals 

 normally 6-15. .10. Calif ornicus 

 n. Upper stem - Irs. 

 present: petals 

 normally only 5.11. acris 

 BB Fls. white (except in some 



double forms ) 12. aconitifolius 



1. amplexicaulis, Linn. Fig. 2075. Stems erect, 5-10 

 inches high, with 2-3 flowering branches, glabrous: Ivs. 

 entire, ovate to lanceolate, amplexicaul, acuminate, 



2076. Ranunculus repens. Double-flowered (X J4). 



Tip of a decumbent plant, which roots at the joints. 



