MAY AND JUNE 



245 



distance from the parent plant, thus forming new indi- 

 viduals. 



To the Eose family, besides the three already men- 

 tioned and the rose itself, belong the following common 

 plants : pear, quince, peach, plum, livelinger, shadbush, 

 hawthorn, blackberry, and rasp- 

 berry. 



Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbo- 

 sus) : 



This belongs to the same 

 family as the hepatica and 

 anemones. The name of the 

 family — Crowfoot — perhaps 

 refers to the shape of the leaves, 

 which are often much cut. 



The common buttercup has a 

 bulb, which is enveloped by the 

 dilated base of the root leaves. 

 These are palmately compound, 

 Avith three much-cut divisions, 

 or a long leaf stalk .or petiole. 

 The stem leaves, on the con- 

 trary, are sessile. 



All of the parts of the flower are present and free from 

 each other. The sepals frequently drop off before the 

 rest of the flower has faded at all. 



Notice at the base of each petal the small nectar 

 scale. 



The outermost stamens ripen and discharge their pol- 

 len first, even while the inner stamens are still covering 

 over and protecting the young pistils. These are similar 

 in kind and arrangement to those of the strawberry. 



Buttercup. 



