CROWFOOT FAMILY 



RANUNCULACEAE 



EARLY CROWFOOT 



Ranunculus fasciciilaris Muhl. 



This is one of the earhest Buttercups, blooming in April 

 and May. It is found on hills and in open woods from Ontario 

 and New England south to North Carolina and west to Manitoba 



and Texas. In Illinois it is 

 very common on sunny 

 open banks, especially in 

 the north. 



The plant is usually 4-6 

 inches high. It produces a 

 cluster of thickened fleshy 

 roots, several pinnate basal 

 leaves with hairy petioles, 

 and I or more flowering 

 stems which are also hairy. 



The petals are yellow, 

 5-7, and about twice as 

 long as the divisions of the 

 calyx. Stamens and pistils 

 are numerous. The fruits 

 form a head of flattened 

 and slightly margined 

 akenes. The persistent 

 style forms a slender, 

 straight or somewhat curved 

 beak which is about as long 

 as the akene. 



The common Buttercup 

 _ is the Tall Crowtoot, Ra- 



nunculus acris L., which has 

 been naturalized from Europe, It is common in fields and blooms 

 from June to August. From a cluster ot much-divided basal leaves 

 springs the hollow flowering stem bearing tew leaves and large 

 bright yellow flowers. The stems are hairy and 8-24 inches high, 

 and contain most of the intensely acrid juice tor which the plant is 

 named. The flowers are followed by heads of flattened, slightly 

 hooked akenes. 



Tho buttercups, bright eyod and bold. 



Hold up thoir olialicos of gold 



To catch tho sunshine and tho dew. 



Cetitcnnial Poem — .7. C. H. DoRR 



98 



