36 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



lower ones on stalks from 3 to 8 inches long ; blade of the radical leaves pin- 

 nate, or very much divided ; the terminal division stalked, lateral ones sessile. 

 Flowers large ; petals yellow, spatulate, or oblong, with a scale at base, much 

 longer than the sepals. April, May. 



Geography. — Throughout the Atlantic States in southern exposures of rocky 

 liillsides and open woods. 



8. R. Flammula, L. (Var. intefmedius, Hook.) (Smaller Spearwort.) Stem 

 prostrate, upright, or assurgent, frequently rooting below, usually less than a 

 foot high. Leaves lanceolate, entire, or slightly toothed, linear lanceolate, 

 lower ones Avider on short petioles, or sessile. Petals 5, 6, or 7, golden yellow, 

 larger than sepals. Carpels flattish, each armed with a sharp point. Fhjwers 

 from July to September. 



Var. reptans, Gray. (Creeping Spearwort.) Diminutive form. Stem 

 less than 6 inches long, prostrate, rooting at all the nodes. Leaves small, 

 varying from linear to oblong or spatulate. Flowers from June to September, 



Geography. — Northern part of New York, and northward on sandy shores. 

 Northward rare. The following form is more common. 



9. R. multifidus, Pursh. (Much-divided leaved Crowfoot. Yellow Water 

 Crowfoot.) Stem long, slender, submerged, or floating. Leaves in 3-forked, 

 thread-like, linear, or wedge shaped divisions, varying in outline; floating 

 leaves lobed. Sepals reflexed, shorter than petals. Petals bright-yellow, 5-8. 

 Carpels smooth, in a subglobular head, crowned with spine-like tips. 



Geography. — Northeastern North America, in ponds, sluggish streams, 

 and muddy places. 



Var. terrestris, Gray. Does not grow in the water ; has ascending stems, 

 bearing eacli a small panicle of flowers at its summit. Leaves in the form of 

 linear or oblong bracts. 



Geography. — Michigan, near Ann Arbor, Minn., Alaska. 



10. R. muricatus, L. (Prickly-seeded Crowfoot) Stem erect, branched, 12 

 inches high, glabrous. Leaves roundish, cordate, 3-lobed ; lobes coarsely cre- 

 nate-toothed ; all similar and petioled ; petioles 1 to 5 inches long ; bracts 

 near the flower simple. Flowers small, few, yellow ; petals obovate ; carpels 

 large, aculeate, strongly margined, ending in a stout, ensiform, recurved beak. 

 May to July. 



Geography. — Seed brought from Europe in grain. Plairt naturalized in 

 southern United States, Virginia to Louisiana. Also seen by Dr. Wood in 

 California. Loves damp places. 



11. R. oblongifolius. Ell. (Oblong-leaved Crowfoot.) Stem usually erect, 

 slender, sometimes hairy below, much branched above, about a foot high. 

 Leaves lance-ovate, lanceolate, linear, or oblong, serrate or toothed, lower ones 

 or all petioled. Flowers golden yellow. Petals 5, very much larger tlian the 

 sepals. Stamens 20 or more. Carpels small, globular, crowned with a little 

 spot. (R. pusillus var. Torr. & Gray.) Flowers in June. 



Geography. — Southern United States. Wet prairies. Salem, 111, 



12. R, parviflorus, L. (Small-flowered Crowfoot.) Stem 6 to 12 inches high, 

 slender, branched. Leaves all petiolate, small, roundish, cordate, 3-lobed, 

 segments sharply toothed. Flowers very small. Yellow petals and sepals, 

 about the same length. Carpels globular, small, tipped witli a very short 

 beak, arranged in a globose head. May to June. 



Geography. — Naturalized from Europe. Found in gravelly places. Fron- 

 Virginia to Louisiana. 



