56 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



Below the famous Joch Pass, leading from Engelberg to Meiringen, 

 the damp rocks and stony pastures at about 7000 feet are in July 

 purple and white with myriads of blossoms of Primula integrifolia 

 and R. alpestris. But directly one gets west of Switzerland this 

 buttercup becomes rare. 



Distribution. Carpathians, Eastern and Central Alps ; rarely in 

 Savoy and Dauphiny ; Jura, Eastern and Central Pyrenees. 



R. alpestris can be planted in a mixture of peat, loam, and leaf- 

 mould, with a little grit added, but the place must be well drained 

 and with a little shade. Snails must be kept off in the early spring, 

 as they are fond of eating the crowns when just appearing. 



Ranunculus Traunfellneri Hoppe. 



Stem 1-3 inches high ; leaves not shining, where it differs chiefly 

 from A. alpestris, which it resembles, and of which it is sometimes 

 considered a variety. Leaves veined ; root-leaves 3-partite, reni- 

 form in outline, the central lobe 3-cleft, the divisions lanceolate. 

 Stem i-flowered, usually with one leaf ; stem-leaf linear, undivided. 

 Flower-stalk furrowed. Calyx glabrous. Petals obcordate or 

 3-lobed, white. 



Dry places on limestone, at about 5000 feet ; rare. June, July. 



Distribution. Eastern Alps ; Tyrol to Carniola. 

 Ranunculus montanus Willd. 



Stem 4-12 inches high, erect. Root-leaves palmate ; divisions 

 obovate, 3-cleft, obtusely toothed. Lowermost stem-leaf 5-cleft ; 

 divisions linear, palmately diverging ; upper stem-leaf 3-cleft. 

 Flowers 1-3, yellow. Sepals spreading, pubescent. Carpels 

 marginate, convex on both sides ; beak somewhat curved, very 

 short. Receptacle bristly. 



Alpine and sub-alpine woods and pastures ; 3500-8200 feet. 

 Common. June to August. Very variable, and with several 

 named varieties, of which R. Villarsii DC. is a very striking^dwarf 

 form. 



Distribution. Carpathians, Eastern, Central, and Western Alps, 

 Jura, Black Forest, Corbieres, Pyrenees, Western Asia and W. 

 Africa. 



Ranunculus lanuginosus L. 



A tall Buttercup, the size of R. acris. Stems hollow branched, 

 densely woolly. Leaves hairy beneath, lower ones 5-partite with 

 broadly obovate lobes, irregularly toothed, the upper leaves 

 tripartite with lanceolate lobes ; peduncles not furrowed. Flowers 

 bright yellow. Sepals spreading, hairy ; receptacle glabrous. 

 Carpels glabrous, with hooked beak nearly half the length of the 

 carpel. 



^Mountain woods, especially in the Conifer zone. June to August. 



