DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 23 



thick, and evergreen. Flowers single, on rather slender 

 hairy scapes. 



a. (H. triloba), Round-lobbd Hepatica. Lobes' of the leaves 

 obtuse or rounded; those of the involucre obtuse; sepals 6-12, vary- 

 ing from blue to white. 



b. (H. acutiloba), Shakp-lobed Hepatica. Closely similar 

 to the former, except for the acute lobes of the leaves and tips of the 

 involucre. 



III. RANUNCULUS, CROWITOOT, BUTTERCUP. 



Sepals 5. Petals 6, each -with a little neotar-seoreting 

 scale or gland at the inside of the base. Akenes in a head, 

 numerous, usually flattish. Stem-leaves alternate, the bases 

 often clasping. (Fig. 70.) Flowers generally yellow. 



a. (R. ABORTivus), Small-flowered Crowfoot. Very smooth 

 and slender ; the first root-leaves crenate ; petals pale yellow, even 

 shorter than the small reflexed calyx. 



b. (R. RECDRVATus), HooKED C. Hairy, 1-2 ft. high; leaves 

 all long-petioled, 3-cleft and with wedge-shaped, 2-3-lobed divisions ; 

 akenes with lohg, recurved beaks; petals pale,' shorter than the 

 reflexed calyx. 



c. (R. sept'entkionalis). Creeping Buttercup. Low, with 

 ascending stems, especially in wet ground, sending out runners 

 during the summer, but flowering on more or less upright shoots in 

 spring ; leaves 3-divided, with wedge-shaped or ovate divisions ; 

 flowers yellow, rather large and showy. 



d. (R. bOlbosus), Bulbous Buttercup, Early Buttercup. 

 Stem upright, from a solid bulb about as large as a filbert ; leaves 

 much divided and cut ; petals large, roundish, bright yellow. The 

 most showy of all the buttercups. Not common, except in Eastern 

 New England. 



IV. CALTHA, MARSH MARIGOLD. 



Sepals petal-like, 6-9. Petals none. Pistils 6-10, each 

 consisting of a one-celled ovary with a nearly sessile stigma. 

 Fruit a many-seeded follicle (much like that of Fig. 171). 



(C. PALUSTRis), Cowslips, Meadow Buttercup (both unsuit- 

 able names, but in common use). Stem hollow, smooth, ascending; 

 leaves smooth, roundish and heart-shaped, or kidney-shaped, with 

 crenate, dentate, or nearly entire margins ; the broad oval sepals 

 bright yellow. Swamps or wet ground. 



