NOTES ON RANUNCULUS FICARIA L. 199 
successive lateral branches, as is the case with the Ranunculi 
generally. But the leaves are in the main opposite, and not seldom, 
o. Many i 
from at one or more nodes of each individual plant, but a simple 
application of the statistical method will show that opposition is 
being 
the prevailing leaf arrangement this paragraph was 
written six specimens were collected quite at rando 
there was a total of 839 nodes. Of these 28 bore opposite leaves, 
single leaves being present at the remaining It sho 
noted, however, that in these sp ens th $s with single 
leaves were all on the peduncles of the flowers, the m em and 
lateral ches in every case showing the opposite arrangement 
a 
seales, but in these the same arrangement may often be seen as is 
met with in the ordinary leaves. Moreover in the young plants 
just eeeictng from detached tubers, which as ae in the spring, 
the same phenomena are demonstrable. In such plants the tuber 
is often surmounted by two small opposite ae from between 
which is continued the ae axis. At the first node on this axis 
are a pair of opposite scales, followed by a pair of ordinary green 
leaves, with long petioles, which are also opposite. Hence the 
eget arrangement may be regarded as the normal one in 
yee in which it differs conspicuously from 
the ‘te species Soft the 
Passing on to t a eer, eet ae reel important 
difarenoes here also. The number of sepals and petals has already 
been referred to, as having long ago TAB ie attention of 
botanists, and as having received due consideration. But the 
allowed. Aaa m this arrangement, as in the number, there is a 
certain of individual variation ; Bat if we again apply the 
statistical etal we shall find that in the great majority of — 
the calyx an corolla are fundamentally ¢rimerous, and not pen 
papa as are the other Ranunculi. In the majority of heclnats. 
the outer envelopes of the flowers will be found constituted as 
follows :— 1. A whorl of three pres civerene from the thalamus 
mono he pet equal angles. 2. Alternating with the sepals, a By 
j : 
they are readily distinguishable. 8. An inner whorl of 5 petals. 
Sot ices other geen are developed in addition to these, but 
even when this is the the arrangement of the two whorls 
mentioned is not srtaghaed ‘with, the extra ais aig within the 
stamen 
ifferent 
other species, goes without saying. In these last the ta and 
corolla are both pentamerous, and in no case that I have observed do 
the five petals form sue than a single whorl. But in Ficaria the 
