Neilgherry Plants. 189 



RANUNCULUS. Butter-Cup. Crow-foot. 



Sepals 5, not free at the base, deciduous, imbricated in aestivation. 

 Petals 5, rarely 10 or more, the claw furnished inside with a nectari- 

 ferous concave little scale. Stamens and styles numerous. Achenia 

 ovate, pointed, somewhat compressed. Seed erect — Herbaceous 

 plants with annual or perennial roots. Leaves mostly radical ; cau- 

 line ones placed at the base of the branches and peduncles. 



This genus ranks very near the former in the Botanical system, 

 agreeing with it in its herbaceous character, its perennial roots, the 

 form of its flowers, and structure of its seed, but differs in having 

 a perfect calyx and corolla, in place of a petaloid or corolla-like 

 calyx, and the seed erect, not suspended in their cells as in Anemone. 

 Like Anemones these plants frequent pastures, shady woods, and 

 moist soils near water, and they equally, but more energetically, 

 participate in the acrid properties of the family. Like them, under 

 proper cultivation they become double, and in that state are equally 

 prized as garden ornaments. Of those found on these Hills only 

 one, Ranunculus reni/ormis, seems well adapted for the garden. It 

 grows in open pastures, has thick fleshy roots, is naturally furnish- 

 ed with numerous petals, about 12, and, probably, treated as above, 

 would soon shew a tendency to increase the number. 



The Ranunculus when thoroughly doubled is a fine flower, especial- 

 ly when richly variegated. Formerly they were in much greater 

 repute as garden ornaments than in the present day, when gardens 

 are stocked with such a multiplicity of new flowers brought from all 

 parts of the world, but I almost doubt whether the lovers of fine 

 flowers have not sustained a loss in discarding them to so great an 

 extent as they have done from the Flower border : and I should not 

 be surprised, ere long, to see them again taken into favour when the 

 fashion for the large and gaudy Dahlia and such like has somewhat 

 abated, and that far more modest, but not less beautiful object, has 

 resumed its place among the admirers of really fine flowers. Of 

 this I, at all events, feel quite certain, that I have never on the 

 Neilgherries seen a Dahlia that would bear comparison with Ranun- 

 culuses and Anemones I have seen in even second-rate Cottager's 

 gardens in England. 



