62 RANUNCULACE^. 



commonly numerous, occasionally few, always distinct. Ovaries numer- 

 ous, distinct. Achenia aggregated in a head. 



Annual or perennial herbs, with alternate stem-leaves. Flowers solitary 

 or corymbed, generally yellow, sometimes white. 



All the ranunculi possess an acrid principle of a volatile nature ; few of 

 them have been used medicinally. 



Ranunculus bulbosus Itinnd.— Bulbous Crowfoot or Buttercup. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 5, smaller than the petals, reflexed. Co- 

 rolla : petals 5 to 7, round, wedge-shaped below, with a small scale at the 

 base, deep, shining yellow. Achenia with a short beak, collected in a 

 globular head. 



A perennial herb growing erect from a bulbous base ; leaves and stem 

 hairy. Kadical leaves ternately divided, the lateral divisions sessile, the 

 terminal stalked and 3-parted, the divisions wedge-shaped, cut, and toothed. 

 Plowers solitary, large, on long furrowed pedimcles ; they appear through- 

 out the summer. 



Habitat. — A native of Europe ; naturalized in the Northern Atlantic 

 States, growing in meadows and pastures. 



Ranunculus repens lAmxG.— Creeping Crowfoot. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 5, sjDreading, smaller than the petals. 

 Corolla : petals 5, obovate, with a small scale at the base, bright yellow. 

 Carpels strongly margined, pointed by a stout, nearly straight beak, col- 

 lected in a globular head. 



A low perennial, hairy or nearly smooth, with the stem ascending, or 

 creej)ing along the ground. Leaves ternately divided, the divisions mostly 

 stalked, wedge-shaped or ovate, unequally 3-cleft or jsarted, and variously 

 cut. Peduncles furrowed. It blooms throughout the summer. 



Habitat. — In wet shady places ; common. 



Ranunculus acris lAnne.—Tall Crowfoot. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 5, spreading, shorter than the petals, yel- 

 lowish-gi'een. Corolla : petals 5, nearly as large as those of R. bulbosus, 

 with a scale at the base, bright yellow. Carpels ovate, compressed, smooth, 

 in a globular head. 



A jDerennial herb. Stem erect, 2 to 3 feet high, hairy. Leaves mostly 

 stalked, deeply divided into 3, 5, or 7 palmate segments, which are cut 

 into lanceolate or linear acute lobes. Peduncles round, not furrowed. It 

 blooms in summer. 



Habitat. — A native of Europe ; naturalized here, and common in mead- 

 ows, pastures, and waste places. 



Ranunculus sceleratus Linne. — Cursed Crowfoot. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 5, small. Corolla : petals 5. Scarcely 

 larger than the sepals, pale yellow. Carpels numerous, in oblong cylin- 

 di'ical heads. 



A smooth perennial herb. Stem erect, 1 foot high, thick, hollow. 



