Genus 20. 



CROWFOOT FAMILY. 



107 



7. Ranunculus reptans L. Creeping Spearwort 



Ranunculus reptans L. Sp. PI. 549. 1753. 

 Ranunculus filiformis Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. i : 320. 1803. 

 Ranunculus Flainmula var. reptans E. Meyer. PI. Lab. 96. 1830. 

 R. Flainmula intermedius Hook. Fl. Bor. Am, i : 11. 1829. 



Trailing or reclining, glabrous or pubescent, rooting from 

 the nodes, the flowering stems and peduncles ascending. 

 Leaves linear, lanceolate or spatulate, I'-a' long, mainly en- 

 tire, gradually narrowed into the petiole ; flowers bright yel- 

 low, 4"-5" broad, solitary on peduncles i'-3' long, petals 4-7, 

 much exceeding the calyx ; achenes flatfish, with a minute 

 sharp beak ; stamens numerous. 



On shores, Newfoundland and arctic America, south to New 

 Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and in the Rocky Mountains 

 to Colorado. Also in Europe. Summer. 



Ranunculus Flammula L., which has larger mostly broader 

 leaves, the stout stem rooting only at the lower nodes, is recorded 

 from Newfoundland, and is widely distributed in Europe and 



Asia. 



8. Ranunculus obtusiusculus Raf. Water Plantain Spearwort. Fig. 1902. 



Ranunculus obtusiusculus Raf. Med. Rep. (II. j 



5: 359. 1808. 

 Ranunculus alismaefolius A. Gray, Man. Ed. 



5, 41. 1867. Not Geyer, 1848. 

 Ranunculus ambigens S. Wats. Bibliog. Index 



1 : 16. 1878. 



Mostly stout and i°-3° high, ascending, 

 glabrous, rooting from the lower nodes ; 

 stem hollow, sometimes nearly i' thick at 

 the base. Leaves lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, 3'-6' long, s"-i2" wide, den- 

 ticulate or entire, all but the uppermost on 

 broad petioles, which clasp the stem by a 

 broad base; flowers yellow, panicled, 6"- 

 8" broad ; petals 5-7, much exceeding the 

 sepals ; head of fruit globose or slightly 

 elongated, 5"-6" in diameter ; achenes 

 compressed, 4" long, subulate-beaked, but 

 the beak early deciduous; 



Marshes, Maine and Ontario to Georgia, 

 Tennessee, Minnesota and Arkansas. June- 

 Aug. 



9. Ranunculus nivalis L. Snow Butter- 

 cup. Fig. 1903. 



Ranunculus nivalis L. Sp. PI. 553. 1753. 



Stem simple, 4'-i2' high. Basal leaves long- 

 petioled, 3-7-lobed, or crenate, thick, glabrous, 

 the blade about i' broad, those of the stem short- 

 petioled or sessile, deeply lobed; flowers solitary, 

 6"-g" broad, white or light yellow; calyx nearly 

 half the length of the petals, densely black or 

 brown hairy all over, as is the upper part of the 

 peduncle; head of fruit oblong, 6" long; achenes 

 tipped with the subulate style. 



Labrador and arctic America generally ; also in 

 northern Europe and Asia. Summer. 



