18 



THE EANUNCULUS FAMILY. 



vered on both sides with conical, straight 

 or hooked prickles. 



A common and troublesome cornfield 

 weed, in central and southern Europe 

 and west central Asia. Very abundant 

 in slovenly farms in southern England,- 

 but decreasing northwards. FL and 

 ripens its seed with the corn. 



Fig. 22. 



a£\ 



VII. CALTHA. CALTHA. 



Glabrous herbs, with a perennial stock and annual stems. Sepals 

 about 5, large and yellow like the petals of Ranunculus, but no real 

 petals. Stamens numerous. Carpels 5 to 10, laterally compressed, 

 each with several seeds. 



A genus of very few species, inhabitants of temperate and cold re- 

 gions in both the northern and southern hemispheres. 



1. Marsh Caltha. Caltha palustris, Linn. (Eig. 23.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 506. Marsh Marigold.) 



A perennial, forming large tufts, with 

 a thick almost tuberous rootstock. Stems 

 about a foot long, erect or decumbent, 

 often rooting at the lower nodes, and 

 but slightly branched. Leaves mostly 

 radical, on long stalks, orbicular or kid- 

 ney-shaped, cordate at the base and cre- 

 nate on the margin. Flowers large, of a 

 bright golden-yellow. • 



In marshy places, the sides of brooks, 

 etc., throughout Europe, northern and 

 central Asia, and northern America. 

 Abundant in Britain. FL spring, com- 

 mencing early and often lasting till sum- 

 mer. A small mountain variety, with 

 a more decumbent stem, rooting at the 



joints, and a smaller flower, has been described as a species, under 



the name of C. radicans (Eng. Bot. t. 2175). 



Fig. 23. 



