RANUNCULACEAE 



29 



The flowers observed by Lindman on the Dovrefjeld were at first protogynous, 

 afterwards becoming homogamous. Their diameter was 5-22 mm. In that region 

 flies, and a Lepidopterid, were observed as visitors. 



Warnstorf (Verh. bot. Ver., Berhn, xxxviii, 1896) observed in individual flowers 

 at Ruppin — though only very rarely — that certain stamens bore a papillated 

 stigma at the tip. Pollen-grains yellow, tuberculated, very irregular, usually rounded 

 tetrahedral, varying in size up to 43 /a in diameter. 



According to Focke (Abh. nat. Ver., Bremen, xii, 1891), Ranunculus auricomus 

 is self-fertile. 



Visitors. — In north and central Germany the following have been observed 

 by Herm. Miiller (H.M.) and myself (Kn.). — A. Coleoptera. i. Meligethes, po-dvg. 

 (Kn.). B. Diptera. (a) Muscidae : 2. Anthomyia radicum Z. j and S, particularly 

 freq. (H. M.) ; 3. Lucilia caesar L., po-dvg. (Kn., Kiel.) ; 4. Scatophaga merdaria F., 

 skg. and po-dvg. (H. M.). (b) Syrphidae : 5. Cheilosia vernalis Fall., po-dvg. (H.M.); 

 6. EristalistenaxZ., po-dvg. (Kn., Kiel); 7. MelanostomamellinaZ., po-dvg. (Kn., H.M. ); 

 8. Pipizella virens F., po-dvg. (H.M.). C. Hymenoptera. (a) Apidae : 9. Andrena 

 fulvescens Sm. S, skg. (H. M.) ; 10. A. parvula .AT. 5, po-dvg. (Kn., H. M.) ; 11. Apis 

 meUifica Z. 5 , po-clg. (Kn., Kiel) ; 12. Halictus albipes F. j, po-clg. (H. M.) ; 13. H. 

 cylindricus F. 5, ditto (Kn.). (d) Formicidae: 14. An ant, nect-lkg. (Sprengel, 

 H. M.). D. Lepidoptera. Tineidae: 15. Micropteryx calthella Z., skg. (H.M. ). 

 E. Thysanoptera. 16. Thrips (Sprengel, H. M.). 



Warnstorf observed numerous pollen-devouring beetles on the flowers at Ruppin. 

 In Dumfriesshire (Scott-Elliot, 'Flora of Dumfriesshire,' p. 4) 2 Muscidae, and a 

 beetle have been observed as visitors. 



Fig. 9. Ranunculus auricomus, L. (after Herm. Miitler). 1-8. Petals with nectaries of various 

 fonns. g. Petals of Eranthis hiemalis, for comparison. 



64. R. amoenus Ledeb. — This arctic species (Siberia, Dahuria, Spitzbergen) — 

 which belongs to the auricomus group — flowers in Spitzbergen from the beginning 

 of July until August or September, and regularly sets fruits. The bright yellow 

 corolla has a diameter of 15-20 mm. The few stamens (6-8) are closely applied to 

 the lower part of the gynoecium, the stigmas of which are therefore easily self- 

 pollinated, while the upper ones are cross-pollinated by insects (Andersson and 

 Hesselman, 'Bidrag till Kanned. om Spetsbergens o. Beeren Eil. Karlvaxtflora,' 



PP- 53-4)- 



65. R. arcticus Richards, var. Wilanderi (Nath.) Freyn.— This species flowers 

 in Spitzbergen during the middle of July and beginning of August, and sets fruits. 

 The corolla has a diameter of i7-5-2i-5mm. 



