Ranunculus. RANUNCULACE^. 15 



point. — DC. prodr. 1. p. 38; Pursh, ft. 2. p. 394; Barlingt. fl. Cest. p. 329; Torr. ^ 

 Gr. fl. N. Am. \. p.2\. R. intermedius, Eat. man. ed. 2. p. 329. R. Clintonii, Beck,fl. 

 I. p. 7. R. nitidus, Muhl. cat. ed. 2. p. 56; Ell. sk. 2. p. 60; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 20. 

 (excl. syn. DC.) 



var. 2. linearilohus {DC): prostrate; stems very long, floriferous ; lobes of the leaves 

 very narrow. — Torr. <^ Gr. I. c. 



var. 3. Marilandicus ( Torr. cj- Gr.) : stem and petioles densely hirsute with very soft hairs ; 

 leaflets distinctly petiolulate. — R. Marilandicus, Poir. diet. 6. p. 126 ; DC. syst. 1. p. 291 ; 

 Pursh, I. c. 



Stems at first, especially in var. 3, and when growing in woods, only a few inches high and 

 wholly erect ; but later in the season, and in rich soils, at length 1-4 feet long and mostly 

 prostrate, often rooting at the joints. Sometimes the whole plant is smooth, but more com- 

 monly the stem and petioles are hairy. Peduncles 1-3 inches long. Flowers about two- 

 thirds as large as in R. acris, bright shining yellow. Carpels in a globose head, margined, 

 somewhat orbicular, punctate ; the beak usually straight, but sometimes a little curved. 



Low grounds, particularly along rivers : var. 3, in woods. A variable species, presenting 

 very different appearances according to the age of the plant, soil, etc. Early in May - Aug. 



11. Ranunculus FAscicuLARis, Mtihl. Bunch-rooted Croirfoot. 



Plant clothed with an appressed silky pubescence ; stem short, erect or spreading ; leaves 

 pinnately divided ; segments oblong-obovate or cuneiform, pinnatifidly lobed ; calyx spread- 

 ing, villous, half the length of the petals ; heads subglobose ; carpels orbicular, tumid, slightly 

 margined ; style subulate, slender, a little curved, nearly as long as the carpel. — Muhl. cat. 

 p. 56 ; DC. prodr. \.p. 40 ; Bigcl.fl. Bost. ed. 2. p. 226 ; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. I. p. 20. t. 8. 

 f. A.; Darlingt.fl. Cest. p. 329; Torr. ^ Gr.fl. N. Am. I. p. 24. 



Root composed of thick, somewhat fleshy, fasciculate fibres. Stem 6-12 inches high, 

 erect or oblique. Leaves variously divided ; of the radical ones, the middle lobe is always 

 distinctly petioled, or separated from the lower segments by a portion of elongated naked mid- 

 rib ; ultimate divisions about 2 lines wide. Flowers nearly as large as in R. acris. Petals 

 obovate or oblong, bright or pale yellow ; scale of the claw cuneate-obovatc. Carpels 

 minutely punctate, abruptly pointed with the slender style. 



Rocky woods and sunny hill sides, particularly along rivers. Common in the northern 

 counties, but rather rare on the Hudson. Fl. April - May, Fr. June. 



12. Ranunculus Pennsylvanicus, Linn. Pennsylvanian Crowfoot. 



Stem and petioles hispid with spreading hairs ; leaves tcrnate, villous, with the hairs ap- 

 pressed ; lower ones on long petioles , the leaflets petiolulate , lobes lanceolate, incised ; calyx 

 reflexed, longer than the small petals ; heads oblong or somewhat cylindrical ; carpels broadly 



