RANUNCULACE. 53 
been sung by many poets, and its bright golden colour renders it a favourite everywhere. 
Old John Dryden says,— 
“ And get soft hyacinths with iron blue 
To shade Marsh Marigolds of shining hue.” 
The Scotch name Gowan or Gowlan, though indiscriminately applied to many spring 
flowers, is generally understood to designate particularly the daisy, dandelion, crowfoot, 
and Marsh Marigold. Gowan by itself is always the daisy ; yellow-gowan the dandelion, 
&c. Burns writes,— 
** We twa have rin about the braes, 
And pu'd the gowans fine,” 
Few plants are more ornamental than the Marsh Marigold on the margin of the 
pleasure ground lake; and when its golden chalice is seen reflected in the clear water, 
we think of Shakespeare’s lines :— 
“Hark ! hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings, 
And Phebus ’gins to rise, 
His steed to water at these springs 
On chaliced flowers that lies.” 
The occasional bright yellow colour of butter in the spring time has been vulgarly 
attributed to this plant as well as to the Ranunculus bulbosus, and with equal impro- 
bability, for cows will not eat of it unless compelled to do so by extreme hunger; and 
Boerhaave says that when they do so, they frequently die. 
Dr. Withering gives a curious account of the medicinal properties of the plant 
He says: “It would appear that medicinal properties may be evolved in the gaseous 
exhalations of plants and flowers ; for on a large quantity of the flowers of Meadow 
Routs being put into the bedroom of a girl who had been subject to fits, the fits ceased.” 
An infusion of the flowers was afterwards successfully used in various kinds of fits, 
both of children and adults. The juice of the petals boiled with a little alum, stains 
paper yellow ; but the colour so produced is said not to be permanent. 
GENUS VIT—TROLLIUS. Linn. 
Sepals 5 or more, sub-equal, petaloid, deciduous. Petals 5 to 
15, very small, linear, flat, with a nectariferous pore at the base. 
Carpels numerous, sessile, having the ovules arranged in 2 rows. 
Follicles distinct. Seeds oblong-angular, with a hard testa. Chalaza 
inconspicuous. 
SPECIES I—TROLLIUS EUROPAUS. Linn. 
Prate XLII.* 
Reich, Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. IV. Ran, Tab. CII. Fig. 4713. 
Sepals 10 to 15, concave, connivent, so that the flower is sub- 
globular. Petals 10 to 15, about as long as the stamens. 
* The Plate is E. B. 28, with head of fruit added by Mr. J. E. Sowerby. 
