42 Introduction to Botany. 



low, sometimes white or red. Sepals 5 and deciduous ; petals of the 

 same or greater number, with a nectariferous pit and a scale at the base 

 of the blade. Flowers solitary or corymed. Achenes capitate or spicate, 

 tipped with the persisting style, numerous. 



i. Ranunculus abortivus, L. (L., abortiviis, abortive.) Small-flowered 

 Crowfoot. From 6 inches to 2 feet iiigh. Basal leaves usually ovate- reniform. 

 crenate, long-petioled. Stem leaves sessile and divided into oblong or cuneate 

 lobes. Flowers yellow; petals shorter than or equaling the calyx; style short; 

 achenes smooth, with a minute bealc. In the moist ground of woods and banks of 

 streams. 



2. Ranunculus micranthus, Nutt. (Gr., mikros, small ; anthos, flower.) Rock 

 Crowfoot. Similar to the above, but basal leaves ovate or orbicular, usually 

 3-lobed ; plant hairy ; roots tuberous. In rich woods. 



3. Ranunculus recurvatus, Poir. (L., recurvaius, curved backward.) HOOKED 

 Crowfoot. From 6 inches to 2 feet high ; leaves broad, deeply 3-parted or lobed, 

 the lobes variously toothed, long-petioled. Plant usually hairy. Flowers yellow, 

 from \ to nearly \ inch broad. Achenes tipped with a prominent, recurved, hooked 

 beak. In woods. 



4. Ranunculus septentrionalis, Poir. (L., septentrionalis, northern.) Swamp 

 or Marsh Buttercup. A branching plant from i to 3 feet high, smooth or only 

 slightly pubescent. Roots fibrous. Leaves long-petioled, 3-divided, the divisions 

 stalked and cleft or lobed and cuneate at the base. Flowers yellow, an inch or 

 more in diameter. Petals obovate, and twice the length of the sepals. Achenes 

 with an awl-shaped beak, fiat and broadly margined. In low and moist ground, 



5. Ranunculus hispidus, Michx. (L., hispidus, bristly.) Hispid Buttercup. 

 Stems 8 inches to 2 feet tall, ascending or spreading. Densely hairy while young, 

 but becoming less so with age. Roots of thickened fibers. Leaves 3-s-divided, the 

 divisions ovate, oblong, or obovate. Flowers from 5 to I5 inches broad, yellow. 

 Achenes narrowly margined and tipped with an awl-shaped beak. In dry woods 

 and thickets. 



6. Ranunculus fascicularis, Muhl. {L.,/iJ«V»/aj, a small bundle.) Early or 

 Tufted Buttercup. Tufted plants from 6 to 12 inches tall. Leaves petioled, 

 3-S-divided, the divisions stalked and with oblong or linear lobes. Flowers 

 yellow, about i inch broad. Achenes slightly margined with awl-shaped beak. 

 Somewhat pubescent. Root fibers thickened. On hills or in woods. 



BERBERIDACE.a;. Barberry Famii,y. 



Herbs or shrubs. Both sepals and petals imbricated in the bud and 

 usually in two whorls each, with 3, rarely 2-4, segments in each whorl. 

 Stamens of the same number as the petals and opposite them. Ovary 

 superior, i -celled. Anthers opening by uplifted valves, excepting in the 

 genus Podophyllum. 



