10 : THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. [ Ranunculus. 
nial, with the habit of the smaller specimens of 2. 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 toot hed only, the more permanent ones once or twice ternately divided 
into cut segments. Flowers few, rather large, bright yellow, the sepals 
spreading, but not reflexed. Carpels numerous, glabrous, collected in an 
oblong or cylindrical head. 
In rather dry, waste, and cultivated places, and hilly pastures, abundant, 
especially in the West Mediterranean region, extending up Western France 
to the British Channel, and occurring near St. Aubin’s, in Jersey. 7. 
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 2. repens, but smaller, 
divided into three segments more or less cut, but broader than in R. acris. 
It is distinguished from all but &. hirsutus, by the sepals, which, as 
soon as the flower expands, are closely reflected 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; naturalized in 
North America. Abundant in Britain. //. early summer. 
13. R. hirsutus, Curtis. (fig. 21). Hairy &.—An erect annual, much 
branched from the base, six inches to near a foot high, with the foliage and 
reflexed calyx of 2. bulbosus, but the flowers more numerous, rather smaller, 
and ofa paler yellow, and the hairs of the stem usually fewer and looser, al- 
though in this respect both species are variable. Carpels marked with a 
series of minute 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. Jn 
most parts of England and southern Scotland, but not generally common, ~ 
and unknown in Ireland. Fl. summer. [R. Philonotis, Khr., the name 
adopted in earlier editions of this work, is of later date than hirsutus. R. 
Sardous, Crantz, and parvulus, Linn., are earlier than either, but very 
inappropriate. | 
14, R. parviflorus, Linn. (fig. 22). Smatl-flowered R.—A hairy annual, 
with weak, prostrate or ascending es from a few inches to about a foot in 
length. beaver 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 &. 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 West Asia ; introduced into 
North America. Not common in Britain, although occurring here and 
there in England and Ireland; not in Scotland. Fl. spring and sum- 
mer. 
15, R. arvensis, Linn. (fig. 23), Corn R.—An erect, branching, nearly 
glabrous annual, of a pale green, 6 to 18 inches high. Leaves deeply cut 
