242 CLASS XIII. ORDER VI. 



August. The plant, intended by Pursh under this name, is pro- 

 bably a different species. 



Ranunculus recurvatus. Poir. Hooked Croiofoot. 



Erect, hairy ; leaves three parted, segments cut- 

 toothed; calyx reflexed, longer than the petals; style 

 of the fruit hooked. 



About a foot high, with few, small, pale yellow flowers with 

 narrow petals. Fruit roundish, ovate, with short hooked styles. 

 — Woods. — Oak island, &c. — June, July. 



Ranunculus aquatilis. L. White Water Ranunculus. 

 Stem floating; submersed leaves filiform, dissected, 

 emersed ones three parted, lobes wedge-shaped and 

 toothed. 



A floating species common to the stagnant waters of this coun- 

 try and Europe. The leaves above water are somewhat peltate 

 in their appearance, those under water capillary and many cleft. 

 Flowers white; petals oblong-obovate. Seeds wrinkled. — In a 

 pond at Newton. — July. Between this and the two following 

 aquatic species there are many varieties and much confusion. 



Ranunculus fluviatilis. River Ranunculus. 



Stem filiform, floating; leaves all immersed and 

 capillary ; petals five, oblong, remote. 



Stem long, slender, round, smooth, jointed, hardly tubular, 

 floating. Each joint gives off a leaf which is petioled, repeatedly 

 ternate and capillaceo-multipartite. There are usually two 

 roots, one on each side the petiole, and an axillary branch or leaf, 

 or peduncle. Stipules oblong, clasping. Peduncles opposite to 

 leaves, smooth, compressed, not furrowed. Calyx of five con- 

 cave striate leaves. Petals five, oblong- wedge form, narrow, 

 with spaces between them, white with a yellow base. Nectary 

 a truncated tube. — In deep brooks. — July, August. — Perennial. 



Hooker and some other botanists consider this a variety of K. 

 aquatilis. 



