THE CROWFOOT FAMILY. 35 



The first 6 Species are water-plants ; the flower about 

 the size of the buttercup. Achenes, conspicuously, 

 transversely wrinkled: the difference of character 

 being chiefly, in the different shapes of their leaves, 

 these six plants, may be considered rather as varieties 

 than species. 



The seventh Species, is rare, in the North. y Many, 

 with yellow flowers, are so similar, that, no doubt, you 

 have been in the habit of calling three or four sorts 

 ' Buttercups,' thinking them to be all alike. I will 

 give the Botanical description of one of them ; and 

 then point out, in what respect the others differ. And 

 how wonderful it is, that such slight differences should 

 exist, and continue so constant to each species, that 

 they can be classed and recognized as separate species, 

 by those distinctions alone ! "Were they not thus 

 diversified, for our close observation, and, above all, 

 to show forth the infinite power and wisdom of their 

 Maker ? 



[BULBOUS CROWFOOT. Banunculus bulbosus. 



[Calyx hairy, reflexcd. (PL II. si.) Peduncles, furrowed, 

 Stem upright, many- flowered. Leaves cut into 3 petiolate 

 leaflets, which are 3-lohed, or divided into 3 and cut. Achenes 

 smooth, receptacle hairy. Stem I foot high, hairy. Upper 

 leaves with linear segments. Root bulbous. PI. I. A. 5. 



