228 Mr. Charles C. Babington on Ranunculus aquatilis. 



R. pantothrix, a, capillaceus, DC. Sys. i. 235. 

 R. aquatilis, /3, capillaceus, DC. Prod, i. 26. 

 R. capillaceus, " Thuil." Lois. Fl. Gall. i. 391. 

 b. C(Espitosus. Caulibus erectis brevibus. 



R. pantothrix, /3, caespitosus, DC. Sys. i. 236. (Syn. Sibth. excl.) 

 R. aquatilis, y, csespitosus, DC. Prod. i. 26. 

 R. csespitosus, " Thuil." Lois, i, 391. 

 R. Bauhinii, Tausch in Ann. Sc. Nat. (1835.) p. 57 ? 

 a and /3, a. Frequent in ponds, ditches and streams. 

 /3, b. On mud in places where water has stagnated, but after- 

 wards disappeared. 



Stems long, floating upon or near to the surface of the 

 water, throwing out fibrous roots from its lower joints ; in 

 var. /S. b, the stems are numerous, short, erect, much branched, 

 slightly decumbent and rooting at the base, and thereby form- 

 ing small dense upright tufts. Leaves all more or less stalked 

 with a sheathing stipule-like base, when below the surface of 

 the water divided into very numerous capillary segments, 

 spreading in all directions from their base so as to form a 

 spherical mass ; when floating they are three-lobed, the lobes 

 being two or three crenate, or divided into a similar number 

 of segments, which are usually obtuse but sometimes acute ; 

 the intermediate lobe has usually three simple divisions, and 

 the lateral ones two, each of which is often again slightly di- 

 vided into two or three parts ; in var, /3. a, the leaves are all 

 capillaceo-multifid, and in var, ^, b., from growing wholly 

 in the air, the segments have a much greater tendency up- 

 wards, but still retain the divergent character of the species 

 forming part of a sphere. In var, a a somewhat similar struc- 

 ture is sometimes noticed in the intermediate leaves, when 

 growing in w^ater, which is liable to great differences of level, 

 80 as to leave the plant at times nearly dry, but in that case 

 the segments are flattened and linear with parallel sides, or 

 slightly narrowed towards their point, and not setaceous. 

 Flowers white, rising above the surface of the water, very 

 variable in size. Petals white, with the base yellow, broad 

 and blunt, with a naked nectariferous pore at their base, al- 

 ways longer than the sepals, which are deciduous, smooth, 

 pale green, elegantly marked with numerous slender dark lines 



