146 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS ranunculus 



A. volgensis. — A Eussian species 

 about, 1 ft. high, intermediate between A. 

 pyrenaica and A. vernaUs. The stems 

 are much branched, with scale-like leaves 

 at the base, and in early summer produce 

 large pure yellow flowers, the sepals of 

 which are smooth outside instead of 

 pubescent as in the other species. 



Culture dc. as above. 



RANUNCULUS (Buttercup; 

 Crowfoot). — A genus with about 160 

 species of annual or perennial herbs 

 having entire or much-cut leaves, and 

 white, yellow, or red flowers, either ter- 

 minal, solitary, or in panicles. Sepals 

 3-5 caducous. Petals conspicuous or 

 rarely minute, equal in number to the 

 sepals — or as many as 15 — with a nectar- 

 bearing scale at the base ; stamens and 

 carpels numerous, free and distinct. 



R. aconitifolius (White Bachelor's 

 Buttons ; Fair Ma/ids of Framce ; Pair 

 Maids of Kent) . — A beautiful plant 24 in. 

 high, native of Europe. Leaves pahnately 

 3-5-lobed and deeply toothed, those of the 

 stem cut into narrow lance-shaped lobes. 

 The white flowers with oblong, wedge- 

 shaped or rounded petals appear in May 

 and June, sometimes few, sometimes 

 many. 



The double variety— ;;?ore plena — 

 popularly known as the ' Fair Maids of 

 France ' has pure snow-white flowers over 

 half an inch across, and as symmetrical 

 Ln form as a Camellia. 



Culture and Propagation. — It is a 

 pretty plant, easily grown in a moist and 

 shaded spot, as under a north wall, where 

 the flowers last longer in perfection than 

 if the plants are grown in strong sunlight. 

 Seeds of the single variety may be sown 

 in the open border in spring, or in early 

 autilmn, or in pots or pans in cold frames. 

 The seedlings may be pricked out and 

 grown on for transplanting in spring or 

 autumn, according to the period of sow- 

 ing. The plants may also be increased by 

 dividing the roots in spring, or about the 

 end of September or October, and this is 

 the better and probably the oaly way to 

 increase the double variety, which is a 

 much finer and more decorative garden 

 plant than the single -flowered type. 



R. acris flore pleno {Double Butter- 

 cup ; Odd Knots ; Bachelor's Buttons). — 

 The type of this plant is the common 

 Buttercup of our pastures and meadows, 

 and is too well known to need any 



description here. And besides, it is un- 

 suitable for the flower garden. The 

 double variety, however, is a pretty 

 border plant, and very ornamental when 

 in a good sunny position in moist soil. 

 The bright yellow flowers are borne in 

 button-like rosettes from April to Septem- 

 ber. 



Culture Sc. as above. The double- 

 flowered Buttercup can only be increased 

 by dividing the roots in spring or autumn. 



R. alpestris. — A native of the Alpine 

 chalky regions of Central Europe, growing 

 3-6 in. high. Leaves roundish heart- 

 shaped, dark glossy green, 3-lobed, with 

 the lobes deeply crenate and blunt at the 

 apex ; the leaves of the stem lance- 

 shaped entire or occasionally more or less 

 trifid. From April to August 1-3 white 

 flowers each about an inch across are 

 borne on a stem, the 5 petals being 

 obcordate or 3-lobed, and surrounding a 

 conspicuous cluster of yellow stamens in 

 the centre. 



Culture dc. as above. This species 

 grows well in moist, sandy soU, and is 

 suitable for rockeries when grown in bold 



R. amplexicaulis {Snowy Crowfoot). 

 A beautiful species 8-12 in. high, native 

 of the Pyrenees and Western Alps. It is 

 easily recognised by its tmdivided ovate 

 or lance-shaped tapering leaves, which 

 clasp the stem at the base, and are 

 smooth, glaucous, or with a few deciduous 

 hairs on the edges. The snow-white 

 flowers with yellow centres appear in 

 April and May, 1-6 being on each 

 stem. Occasionally the flowers are 

 double. 



Culture dc. as above. Grows well in 

 deep moist loam, and may be naturalised 

 among dwarf-growing plants in rather 

 shaded situations. 



R. anemonoides {Anemone Crowfoot), 

 A pretty Httle plant from the Styrian 

 Alps and Southern Tyrol. It is 3-6 in. 

 high with glaucous green biternately 

 divided leaves cut into linear segments. 

 The rather large flowers, with numerous 

 divisions in the petals, are greenish-white 

 inside, pink on the outside, and appear 

 during the summer months. 



Culture dc. as above. It likes a moist 



well-drained soil and a cool situation. 



In some localities it is rather delicate, 



but once established in the clefts of the 



■ rookery it makes a pretty picture. 



