n RANDNCULACEiE 57 



R. repens. There is a nectary, half concealed by a scale, 

 at the base of each petal. According to Verhoeff, the 

 flowers of R. repens secrete more honey than those of 

 R. acris ; the petals are broader and more brilliant, 

 and they also stand closer together. The arrangements 

 of the flowers are, however, similar, and while, as a 

 rule, the hive bee confines itself to one species of flower 

 in a journey, these three are, according to H. Miiller, 

 visited indiscriminately. The sap is very acrid, which 

 protects them and some other species from browsing 

 quadrupeds. They are visited by flies, small bees, 

 the hive bee, Lepidoptera, and beetles, partly for the 

 honey and partly for the pollen. The flower of R. acris 

 lasts seven days. 



R. auricomus (Goldilocks).- — This is a spring species. 

 It grows in woods and copses, flowering before the 

 shrubs and trees are in full leaf It is perennial, 

 6-10 inches high, and nearly glabrous, having only 

 a few appressed hairs. The radical leaves have long 

 stalks, and are rounded or reniform ; the upper ones 

 are more cut up. H. Miiller gives figures of the 

 petals showing considerable variation, and a transi- 

 tion to the condition of those species in which, as 

 in Winter Aconite, they are reduced to mere honey- 

 containing vessels. Where the petals are aborted, the 

 sepals become more petaloid, and are frequently fringed. 

 The carpels are downy. It is visited by bees, flies, a 

 few beetles, and some Lepidoptera. According to Edge- 

 worth, it has two forms of pollen. The plant is found 

 in Northern and Central Europe, and Asia as far south 

 as Northern India. 



R. Ficaria (Pilewort or Lesser Celandine). — Also an 

 early spring species, flowering from March to May. It is 

 a glabrous plant, and the root-stock bears oblong or cylin- 

 drical root-tubers. The flowers are large, about one inch 

 across, numerous, and golden yellow, each on a separate 

 peduncle, which also bears one or two small leaves. 

 Most of the leaves, however, are radical, cordate, and 

 stalked, thick, smooth, and shining. There are 3 sepals 



