ranunculace^e. 29 



Plate 9. 

 RANUNCULUS, L. 



Sepala exappendiculata. Petala plana, dilatata, basi intus 



squamula vel foveola instructa. Achenia plurima, compres- 



sa, mucronata seu rostrata, supra gynophorum globosum cy- 



lindricumve capitata. Semen erectum. 



Ranunculus, Linn. (excl. sp.) Hall. Helv. 2. p. 68. DC. Prodr. 1. 

 p. 26. Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Am. 1. p. 26. Endl. Gen. 47S3. 



Crowfoot. Buttercups. 



Calyx herbaceous or slightly colored, imbricated in aesti- 

 vation, regular; the sepals 5 (rarely 3 or 4), concave, decid- 

 uous. Petals 5 (rarely more or fewer), alternate with the 

 sepals, usually much larger than they, imbricated in aestiva- 

 tion, hypogynous, plane, dilated, the contracted base fur- 

 nished on the inner side with a nectariferous depression or 

 small adherent scale, deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, 

 indefinite, rarely few (5 or more) : filaments filiform : 

 anthers short, extrorsely adnate, the cells opening longi- 

 tudinally. Pistils indefinite, capitate on a globular or cy- 

 lindrical receptacle (gynophore) : ovary compressed, one- 

 celled, one-ovuled : style short, subulate : stigma occupying 

 the inner side at its apex. Ovule erect or ascending from 

 the inner angle next the base of the cell, anatropous ; the 

 raphe ventral. 



Fruit a head of compressed or turgid achenia, pointed or 

 beaked with the persistent and naked style. Seed erect, 

 conformed to the cell. Embryo minute at the base of the 

 corneous-fleshy albumen, next the hilum : radicle inferior. 



Herbs of various habit and foliage, the cauline leaves, 

 when present, alternate. Petioles dilated at the base. In- 

 volucre none. Flowers solitary, terminating the stem and 

 branches, usually showy, yellow or sometimes white, very 

 rarely purple. 



