32 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
Root of numerous white fibres. Stem 8 inches to 2 feet high, 
in the larger specimens often as thick as a man’s finger at the base, 
and branched at the top so as to form an irregularly corymbose 
cyme. Lower leaves glabrous, more or less deeply 3-cleft, the lateral 
segments again divided, though less deeply, and both the primary 
and secondary segments with a few lobes, which are again crenated. 
Middle leaves on shorter stalks, and more deeply “divided than 
the lower leaves; the uppermost of all, or bracts, as they may be 
termed, with scattered hairs on the narrow, sub-entire segments. 
Peduncles furrowed. Flowers about 4 inch across. Sepals re- 
flexed, hairy exteriorly. Petals obovate, pale yellow, about as long 
as the head of pistils. Achenes pale-yellowish olive, compressed, 
their upper edge slightly concave near the base, and slightly convex 
towards the tip, the lower nearly semicircular, each side with a 
faintly-wrinkled patch in the middle. Plant yellowish green, shining. 
This plant cannot possibly be confounded with any other British 
species, and, as Professor Babington observes, approaches more 
nearly to the Batrachian section of the genus than any of the other 
true Ranunculi, not only in the wrinkled carpels and the absence of 
a scale to the nectary, but also in habit, as, when the plant grows 
in water (before the flower-stalk is produced), the radical leaves often 
float on the surface, and remind the observer of those of R. aquatilis. 
Celery-leaved Crowfoot. 
French, Renoncule scélérate. German, Gifthahnenfuss, F'roscheppich. 
The Latin surname of this plant attributes to it a dozen evil qualities. In con- 
sequence of its chosen home in dirty or shallow waters, in muddy drains or dykes, it is 
called polluted, defiled, or dirty Crowfoot. Then it is “scelerate,” because it is acrid, 
nipping, or biting ; if chewed, it inflames the tongue; even the distilled water of it is 
intensely acrimonious ; and as it cools it deposits crystals which are very insoluble and 
have the curious property of being inflammable ; yet, with all this acridity, if the plant 
be boiled and the water thrown off, it is not unwholesome, and the peasants of 
Wallachia eat it as a vegetable. The juice is so irritant, that if applied to the skin it 
will readily produce blisters. Mr. Francis says that he saw a begging impostor producing 
inflammation by this means, in order to excite compassion. 
SPECIES IX—RANUNCULUS OPHIOGLOSSIFOLIUS. 
Vill. 
Puate XXVIII. 
Reich, Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. III. Ran. Tab. XXI. Fig. 4613, 
Stem erect, branched, hollow, furrowed. Lower leaves stalked, 
broadly ovate, faintly serrate; upper leaves nearly or quite sessile, 
narrowly elliptical. Petals longer than the sepals. Nectary with 
a small scale narrower than the claw. Head of fruit globular, 
closely packed. Achenes small and numerous, compressed, their 
sides with small raised points, or tubercles; apiculus very small. 
Receptacle slightly clavate, glabrous. 
