CROWFOOT FAMILY. Ranunculaceae. 



The stem of this species is generally 

 ow Rue stained with madder purple, but some- 

 Thalictrum times it is green with only a slight ma- 

 purpurascen.t genta tinge in parts. The leaves are thick, 

 Green=purple d ee p blue-olive green and similar in shape 

 June-August , , ,. . _,, 



to those ot the preceding species. The 



flowers are green, with a brown-purple tinge, and are 

 also polygamous. 3-6 feet high. On the borders of 

 wooded hills, and copses, ia dry situations. Middle N. 

 Eng., south, and west to S. Dak., Neb., and Ariz. 

 Water Plantain An insi o nificant m arsh species closely 

 Spearwort allied to the buttercup, with yellow flowers 

 Ranunculus f inch broad, the 5-7 petals rather narrow. 

 ambigens The lance-shaped leaves almost if not quite 



Yellow toothless, and clasping the jointed stem, 



June -August , . , , , 



which often sends out roots from the 



joints ; the lower leaves contracted into a broad stem 

 clasping the plant stem. l-2 feet high. Common in 

 wet places, from Me., south to Ga., and west to Minn, 

 and Mo. Name from the classic Rana, a frog, referring 

 to the marshy home of the genus. 



Rather an attractive biennial species, 

 Small-flowered , 



Crowfoot commonly found beside the woodland 



Ranunculus brook, the lower leaves of which are some- 

 abortivus what kidney-shaped, and the upper ones 



Yellow slashed like those of the buttercup, but 



April-June , . 



very moderately so ; the leaves bright 



green and smooth. The small flowers with globular 

 heads, and reflexed or drooping yellow petals ; the head 

 about inch broad. 6-24 inches high. In shady and 

 moist ground, everywhere. The var. eucyclus (Fernald) 

 is a common form in Me., N. H., and Mass., with slender 

 and zigzagged stem, and thin leaves, the lower, rounded 

 ones with narrowed cleft ; the flowers are smaller. 

 Found at Ammonoosuc Lake, Crawford Notch, by J. 

 M. Greenman, and at Orono, Waterville, and Dover, 

 Me., by M. L. Fernald. (See Rhodora, vol. i., p. 52.) 



138 



