DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 23 



thick, and evergreen. Flowers single, on rather slender 

 hairy scapes. 



a. (H. triloba), Round-lobed 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, CROWPOOT, BUTTERCUP. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, each with a little nectar-secreting 

 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 long, recurved beaks ; petals pale, shorter than the 

 reflexed calyx. 



c. (R. septentrionalis), Creeping Buttercup. Low, with 

 ascending stems, especially in wet ground, sending out runners 

 dm-ing 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. BULBOSus), 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, 5-9. 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 kiduey-shaped, with 

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

 bright yellow. Swamps or wet ground. 



