ro 
10 THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. [Ranuneulus. 
ll. R. flabellatus, Desf. (fig. 19). Fine-leaved R.—A hairy peren- — 
nial, with the habit of the smaller specimens of R. bulbosus. Stem 
usually 6 to 9 inches high, thickened at the base into a kind of bulb, 
covered with the fibrous remains of old: leaves, and emitting small 
tubers from the base amongst the fibrous roots. Leaves radical, the 
early outer ones often rounded and toothed only, the more permanent 
ones once or twice ternately divided into cut segments. Flowers few, 
rather large, bright yellow, the sepals spreading, but not reflected. 
Carpels numerous, glabrous, collected in an oblong or cylindrical head. 
R. Cherophyllos, Linn., of former editions. 
In rather dry, waste, and cultivated places, and hilly pastures, 
especially in western and southern Europe, and formerly occurring 
near St. Aubin’s, in Jersey. Fl. early summer. 
12. R. bulbosus, Linn. (fig. 20). Bulbous R.—A perennial, much 
smaller and usually more hairy than the R. acris, of which it has the 
bright yellow petals. Stem seldom above a foot high, and usually 
thickened at the base into a kind of bulb. Leaves more like those of 
R. repens, but smaller, divided into 8 segments more or less cut, but 
broader than in R. acris, It is distinguished from all but R. hirsutus 
by the sepals, which, as soon as the flower expands, are closely re- 
flected on the peduncle. Carpels glabrous and smooth, in a globular 
head. 
In meadows, pastures, and waste places over the greater part of 
Europe, but disappearing in the north-east, rare in western Asia ; 
naturalised in North America. Abundant in Britain. Fl. early summer. 
13. R. hirsutus, Curtis. (fig. 21). Hairy R.—An erect annual, much 
branched from the base, 6 inches to near a foot high, with the foliage 
and reflexed calyx of R. bulbosus, but the flowers more numerous, rather 
smaller, and of a paler yellow, and the hairs of the stem usually fewer 
and looser, although in this respect both species are variable. Carpels 
with a series of tubercles (visible especially when dry) within the rather 
broad margin. 
In fields, cultivated and waste places, in central and southern Europe, 
extending eastward to the Caucasus, and northward to southern Sweden. 
In most parts of England and southern Scotland, but not generally 
common, and unknown in Ireland. Fl. summer. [R. Philonotis, Ehr., 
the name adopted in earlier editions of this work, is of later date than 
horsutus. LR. Sardous, Crantz, and parvulus, Linn., are earlier than either, 
but are quite misleading. ] 
14. R. parviflorus, Linn. (fig. 22). Small-flowered R.—A hairy 
annual, with weak, prostrate or ascending stems, from a few inches to 
about a foot in length. Leaves nearly orbicular, the lower ones 5-lobed 
or crenate, the upper ones divided into 3 or 5 segments, which are more 
or less lobed, but generally less so than in A&, hirsutus. Peduncles 
short, mostly opposite to the leaves. Flowers small and yellow, the 
petals narrow, seldom exceeding the calyx. Carpels covered with small 
tubercles. 
In cultivated and waste places in Europe and Asia; introduced into 
N. America. Not common in Britain, although occurring here and there 
in England and Ireland ; notin Scotland. Fl. spring and summer. 
15. R. arvensis, Linn. (fig. 23). Corn R.—An erect, branching 
nearly glabrous annual, of a pale green, 6 to 18 inches high. Leaves 
