RANUNCULACE^J. (CROWFOOT FAMILY.) 43 



b. Head of carpels globular; petals bright yellow, much larger than the calyx. 



14. R. fascicularis, Muhl. (EARLY C.) Low, pubescent with close- 

 pressed silky hairs ; root a cluster of thickened fleshy fibres ; radical leaves appear- 

 ing pinnate, the long-stalked terminal division remote from the sessile lateral 

 ones, itself 3 - 5-divided or parted and 3 - 5-cleft, the lobes oblong or linear > 

 stems ascending ; petals spatulate-oblong, twice the length of the spreading 

 calyx ; carpels scarcely margined, tipped with a slender straight or rather curved 

 beak. Rocky hills. April, May. Plant 5' -9' high; the bright yellow 

 flower 1' broad : petals rather distant, the base scarcely broader than the scale, 

 often 6 or 7. 



15. R. ripens, L. (CREEPING C.) Low, hairy or nearly glabrous; 

 stems ascending, and some of them forming long runners ; leaves 3-divided ; the 

 divisions all stalked (or at least the terminal one), broadly wedge-shaped or 

 ovate, unequally 3-cleft or parted and variously cut ; peduncles furrowed ; 

 petals obovate, much larger than the spreading calyx ; carpels strongly margined, 

 pointed by a stout straightish beak. Moist or shady places, wet meadows, &c., 

 May - Aug. Extremely variable in size and foliage, commencing to flower by 

 upright stems in spring before the long runners are formed. Flowers as large 

 as those of No. 14, or often larger. (Eu.) 



16. R. BULB6sus, L. (BULBOUS C. BUTTERCUPS.) Hairy; stem erect 

 from a bulb-like base ; radical leaves 3-divided ; the lateral divisions sessile, the ter- 

 minal stalked and 3-parted, all wedge-shaped, cleft and toothed ; peduncles fur- 

 rowed ; petals round, wedge-shaped at the base, much longer than the reflexed 

 calyx ; carpels tipped with a very short beak. Fields ; very abundant only in 

 E. New England; rare in the interior. May -July. A foot high. Leaves 

 appearing as if pinnate. Petals often 6 or 7, deep glossy yellow, the corolla 

 more than an inch broad. ' (Nat. from Eu.) 



17. R. ACRIS, L. (TALL C. or BUTTERCUPS.) Hairy ; stem erect (2 -3<? 

 high) ; leaves 3-divided ; the divisions all sessile and 3-cleft or parted, their seg- 

 ments cut into lanceolate or linear crowded lobes ; peduncles not furrowed ; 

 petals obovate, much longer than the spreading calyx. Fields ; common 

 eastward. June - Aug. Plant twice the height of the preceding ; the flower 

 nearly as large, but not so deep yellow. The Buttercups are avoided by cat- 

 tle, on account of their very acrid or even blistering juice, which, however, 

 being volatile, is dissipated in drying, when these plants are cut with hay. 

 (Nat. from Eu.) 



* * Achenia beset with rough points or small prickles : annuals. 



18. R. MURICATUS, L. Nearly glabrous; lower leaves roundish or reni- 

 form, 3-lobed, coarsely crenate ; the upper 3-cleft, wedge-form at the base ; 

 petals longer than the calyx ; carpels flat, spiny-tuberculate on the sides, strongly 

 beaked, surrounded with a wide and sharp smooth margin. Eastern Vir- 

 ginia and southward. (Nat. from Eu.) 



19. R. PARVIFL6RUS, L. Hairy, slender, and diffuse; lower leaves round- 

 ish-cordate, 3-cleft, coarsely toothed or cut; the upper 3-5-parted; petals not 

 longer than the calyx ; carpels minutely hispid and rough, beaked, narrowly mar- 

 gined. Norfolk, Virginia, and southward. (Nat. from Eu.) 



