SPERMATOPHYTA RANUNCULACEAE 



459 



or nearly so, divided into oblong linear lobes ; flowers small ; sepals 5, reflexed ; 

 petals 5, yellow ; head globose ; carpels mucronate with a minute curved beak. 



Distribution. In moist woods and meadows; a troublesome weed. New- 

 foundland to Manitoba, Nebraska, Colorado and Florida. 



Poisonous properties. The leaves of the plant have an acrid, peppery 

 taste and cause blistering. 



Fig 233. Buttercup (Ran- 

 unculus acris). The juice 

 of this plant has acrid prop- 

 erties, (Ada Hayden.) 



Fig. 234. Small-flowered 

 Crowfoot (Ranunculus abor- 

 tivus). The leaves cause blis- 

 tering. (Ada Hayden,) 



According to Basiner, the oil of Ranunculus acts, in warm-blooded animals, as an 

 acrid narcotic, producing, in small doses, stupor and slow respiration; in larger doses, also, 

 paralysis of the posterior and anterior extremities, and, before death, convulsions of the 

 whole body. The acrid action is shown by a corrosive gastritis and by hyperaemia of the 

 kidneys, more particularly of their cortical substance. Anemonin causes similar symptoms, 

 but is followed by no convulsions, nor does it irritate sufficiently to corrode the organs, 

 as the oil does. 



Dr. Millspaugh mentions especially the R. bulbosus as having a peculiarly 

 powerful irritant action upon the skin, whether applied locally or internally. 



Murray states that a slice of the fresh root (bulb?) placed in contact with the palmar 

 surface of a finger brought on pain in two minutes; when taken off, the skin was found 

 without signs of extra circulation or irritation, and the itching and heat passed away; in 

 two hours it nevertheless returned again, and in ten hours a serious blister had formed, 

 followed by a bad ulcer, which proved very difficult to heal. 



