RANUNCULACE/E 57 



Distribution. — Alps, Jura, Dept. of the Var, Corsica ; Central 

 and Southern Europe from Denmark to Italy, Greece and the 

 Caucasus. 



Ranunculus bulhosus, R. acris, and R. repens are often found 

 in the sub-alpine meadows ; R. acris especially ascending some 

 distance into the mountains. R. auricomus does not get higher 

 than the woods of the Swiss foot-hills. * 



Ranunculus Thora L. 



Rootstock with spindle-shaped roots in bundles. Stem 4-12 

 inches high, 1-5 flowered, simple, glabrous like the whole plant. 

 Lower stem-leaves sessile or shortly petioled, roundly kidney- 

 shaped, toothed or crenate-toothed, the next leaves with 3-5 lobes, 

 and the others lanceolate entire. Flowers small, yellow. Petals 5. 

 Sepals glabrous. Carpels almost globular, with a short beak. 



Steep, stony places in the Alps, in the Pine region and above, up 

 to 7000 feet. June, July ; not common. 



Distribution. — Carpathians, Eastern Alps, Switzerland, Jura, 

 Savoy, and Dauphiny ; Itahan Alps and Central Pyrenees. 



Ranunculus scutatus Schott. 



This species closely resembles the last, of which it is considered 

 a variety by some botanists. It is taller and stouter, with more 

 branched stem and larger flowers. 



Its habitat is similar, but it is not found quite so high in the 

 Alps. June, July. 



Distribution. — Eastern Alps (Styria). 



Caltha L. 



Flowers regular. Sepals usually 5, large and yellow, petaloid, 

 no real petals. Stamens numerous. Carpels 5-10 compressed, 

 each with several seeds. 



A very small genus, inhabiting the temperate and cold regions 

 of both northern and southern hemispheres. 



Caltha palustris L. Marsh Marigold. 



Stems about a foot long, often rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves 

 mostly radical, on long stalks, orbicular or kidney-shaped with 

 cordate base and crenate margin, very glossy. Flowers large and 

 handsome, bright yellow. 



Marshy places, by streams, and damp mountain slopes from the 

 plains up to 8000 feet, and very abundant in the lower Alps from 

 3000 to 5000 feet. In Norway to 4300 feet, or above the birch 

 limit. March to July. 



Distribution. — Europe, Temperate Asia, N. America (British). 



