122 MRS. E. M. REID ON TWO [vol. lxxvi,, 



related to the Reuverian species described as R. lateriflorus 1 in the 

 same way as the Castle-Eden forms of R. nod/florus are to the 

 Teglian. The tubercles are less highly developed, no specimen 

 with very prominent tubercles being found at Castle Eden ; other- 

 wise there is agreement. 



In op. supra cit. p. 92 & pi. vii, fig. 34, we described and figured 

 a Ranunculus as Ranunculus sp. With the abundant Castle- 

 Eden material before me, I now believe this to be a non-tuberculate 

 specimen of R. lateriflorus (/). Therefore, in the Reuverian all 

 varieties occur. At Castle Eden only forms with low rounded 

 tubercles, or non-tuberculate, are found. 



I feel a little doubtful whether both Reuverian and Castle-Eden 

 forms should not be refeired to a variety of R. lateriflorus, as they 

 are more obovate in shape and the base is more wedge-shaped, but 

 they are nearer to this species than to any other living one that I 

 have seen. 



Ranunculus scelebatus Linnseus (?). 



Length= - 9 mm. ; breadth= - 8 mm. 



A minute badly-preserved achene seems to belong to this species. 

 It corresponds in size and shape, and shows in the middle the 

 rounded ridges and longitudinal striations characteristic of the 

 species ; but the most characteristic feature, the thickened annular 

 margin of spongy tissue, is wanting. There is the suggestion of 

 the impression of large cells, but without this margin I cannot 

 feel certain of the determination. 



Ranunculus scelebatus Linnaeus, var. (?). (PL VIII, fig. 15.) 



Achenes oval, inflated ; style very obscure ; outer coat dark 

 brown, rather thick, somewhat obscuring the annular margin and 

 the sculpture of the endocarp, shining, finely pitted ; inner coat 

 thick and hard, witli irregular wavy transverse ridges in the middle ; 

 annular margin of spongy tissue narrow, except at the base, where 

 it is broad, giving to the achene an oval shape. Eight carpels. 



Length = - 8 mm. ; breadth = '65 mm. 



The species does not correspond with European forms of R. scele- 

 ratus, all of which have discoid flat achenes with an annular 

 margin of even Avidth, also a well-marked style, and a thin outer 

 coat showing very clearly the sculpture of the hard inner coat ; 

 but I have found in the Kew Herbarium specimens from North 

 America showing the oval form, the obscure style, and the thick 

 outer coat obscuring the sculpture of the inner coat. I have not, 

 however, been able to find any specimen showing the asymmetric 

 arrangement of the annular margin, broader at the base. In the 

 circumstances, I feel doubtful whether the Castle-Eden species 



1 ' The Pliocene Floras of the Dutch-Prussian Porder ' 1915, pp. 91-92 & 

 pi. vii, figs. 31-33. 



