32 



NATURAL mSTORY OF PLANTS. 



11. RANUNCULUS SEEIES. 



If we analyse the flower of one of our indigenous Kamcncidi^ known 

 under the vulgar names of Crowfoot, Spearwort, Kingcups, Butter- 

 cups, &c. (Fr. Bassinets, Grenouilldtes, Boutons d'or, d argent, &c.), for 



example, the Great Spearwort 

 {Ranunculus Lingua L., Fr. 

 Grande Douve) (fig. 59), we 

 find that it is regular and 

 hermaphrodite, with a slightly 

 convex receptacle. The calyx 

 is formed of five free, some- 

 what unequal, sepals, which 

 are the more membranous and 

 coloured as they are the more 

 internal in the bud, wdiere 

 they are quincuncially imbri- 

 cated (fig. 60). They are 

 caducous, as are also the five 

 petals which alternate with 

 them, and which are also free 

 and imbricated in sestivation." 

 The claw, which is almost 

 obsolete, is surmounted by a 

 glandular depression on the 

 inner surface of the limb. 

 Above the perianth, the re- 

 ceptacle is produced into a 

 short cone, very regular in 

 61, 62), and supports an 



Ranunculus Lingua. 

 Fig. 59. 



R. 



L. 



some species, as M. repens Jj. (figs. 



indefinite number first of stamens and then of carpels, inserted 



ill a spiral.'' The stamens are free, and each is composed of a 



' Ranunculus ILvi.lek, llelvel., ii. 68. — T., 

 Inst., 285, t. 119.— L., Gen., n. 699.— Juss., 

 Gen., n. 2.33.— DC, Prod,:, i. 26.— SrACir, 

 Suit, a Buff., vii. 203.— Exdl., Gen., n. 4783. 

 — Payer, Organog., 255, t. Ivii. — B. H., 

 Oen., 5, 6, ii. 9-12. — II. Bn., Adansonia, 

 iv. 50. 



• The inibricntion of the five petals is variaLle, 



being sometimes quiiicuncial like that of the 

 caly.x, while often there is hut one petal that is 

 wholly ontsitie, and only one entirely covered in. 

 ^ According to Paxer {Bull. Soc. Fhilom., 

 May 17, 1845, 59), the fraction indicating the 

 s])iral arrinigeraent of the petals and stamens 

 is ttV. 



