VOL. II.] CROWFOOT FAMILY 



30. Ranunculus muricatus I,. 



Spiny-fruited Crowfoot. 



(Fig. 1624.) 



Ranunculus muricatus L. Sp. PI. 555. 1753. 



Glabrous or sparingly pubescent, branched 

 from the base, i -2 high. Lower and basal 

 leaves on long broad petioles, the blade reni- 

 form or cordate-orbicular, i / -2 / wide, 3- 

 lobed, cleft, or crenate; the upper 3-divided, 

 cuneate, short-petioled or sessile; flowers 

 light yellow, 3 // -5 // wide, the petals exceed- 

 ing the calyx; head of fruit globular, 5 // -6 // 

 wide; achenes flat, densely muricate and 

 spiny on the sides, i" long, tipped with a 

 stout slightly curved beak of one-half their 

 length. 



Waste places, eastern Virginia and south- 

 ward, naturalized or fugitive from Europe. 

 Also on the Pacific Coast. Native also in Asia 

 and naturalized in tropical America. Summer. 



31. Ranunculus arvensis L,. Corn 



Crowfoot. Hunger-weed. 



(Fig. 1625.) 



Ranunculus arvensis L,. Sp. PI. 555. 1753- 



Erect, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, 

 branched above, i or more high. Lower 

 leaves petioled, the upper sessile, all deeply 

 cleft or divided into linear-oblong, obtuse 

 cuneate, lobed or toothed segments or the low- 

 est entire; flowers 6 // -8 // broad, pale yellow, 

 the petals exceeding the sepals; achenes 4-8, 

 flattened, margined, spiny -tuberculate on the 

 sides, 2" long, tipped with a subulate beak 

 more than one-half their length. 



In waste grounds, Tom's River and Passaic, 

 N. J., and in ballast about the northern seaports. 

 Fugitive from Europe, where it is abundant in 

 gram-fields. Called Hunger-weed because sup- 

 posed to indicate, when prevalent, a poor crop 

 and consequent want. Summer. 



23. BATRACHIUM S. F. Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. PI. 2: 720. 1821. 



Perennial aquatic or ditch herbs, with alternate dissected or palmately lobed leaves, the 

 segments of the submerged ones often filiform, and solitary rather small white flowers, 

 borne on peduncles opposite the leaves. Sepals and petals usually 5. Petals oblong or 

 oval, the base sometimes yellowish, the claw bearing a small pit. Stamens several or nu- 

 merous. Achenes oblique, compressed, not margined, nearly or quite beakless, tranversely 

 wrinkled. [Greek, referring to the aquatic habitat.] 



About 20 species of very wide geographic distribution, 

 in northwestern North America. 



Besides the following, 3 others occur 



Leaves all dissected into filiform segments and lobes. 



Leaves i'-2* long, flaccid, collapsing when taken from the water. 



Leaves i' long or less, rigid when taken from the water. 

 Leaves all reniform or broadly ovate, 3~5-lobed, 5"-io" wide. 



1. B. Irichophyllum. 



2. B. divaricalum. 



3. B. hederaceum. 



