194 THE HIGH ALPINE PLANTS 



environment. It is only in the most elevated habitats 

 that the very dwarf specimens become covered with 

 hairs. 



The flowers of this plant are very beautiful and 

 are easily distinguished from all other Buttercups by 

 the fact that the outer surface of the calyx is thickly 

 covered with reddish-brown hairs. Usually only one 

 flower, but sometimes as many as three, are borne on 

 each flowering shoot, which also carries a few leaves, 

 smaller in size than those found below. The colour 

 of the corolla varies from pure white to rose-pink, or 

 very dark pink-red. It is very inconstant, great 

 differences in colour being often remarked among the 

 flowers borne on the same plant, and even in the 

 diff'erent petals of the same flower. The petals have 

 a small honey nectary at the base on the inner side, 

 and these organs, again, vary greatly in size and com- 

 plexity, in difi*erent examples of the plant. Otherwise 

 Ranunculus glacialis is quite a typical Buttercup, 

 though of dwarf stature. 



The three other Buttercups have white flowers, and 

 also ofier an interesting contrast when the shape of 

 the leaves is compared. 



The Pyrenean Buttercup [Ranunculus pyrenwus, 

 Linn.), which is common at elevations from 6,000 to 

 8,000 feet or more, has one to three grass-like, lance- 

 shaped leaves, blue-green in colour. The sepals are 

 hairless. It is a dwarf plant, from 3 to 12 inches in 

 height. 



The rarer Parnassus-leaved Buttercup {Ranunculus 



