Ranunculus Lacustris. 149 



licence in the change of names previously occupied ; which can- 

 not be too much discountenanced. Our name and description 

 having been first published, is certainly entitled to the preference. 

 The species is characterized as follows : 



R. lacustris: leaves submerged, dichotomously divided into nu- 

 merous capillary segments : flow ers terminal, yellow ; calyx spread- 

 ing or reflexed, caducous, half the size of the petal ; nectary pet- 

 al-like ; fruit subglobose ; style straight, ensiform. Plate V. 



This, at least in our vicinity, is by far the most common state 

 of the plant. But when it grows in shallow waters, or in ditches, 

 the upper leaves assume various shapes, from reniform palmately 

 3-parted, to multifid. Dr. Hooker describes several distinct va- 

 rieties. To these we might add some others which have fallen 

 under our observation. But all these varieties may be referred to 

 slight differences in situation. 



This species was first observed by us in a small pond near Lan- 

 singburgh in this vicinity. It is also found at Salina, near Ro- 

 chester, and various other parts of western New- York. It ex- 

 tends north to Arctic America, and as far west as the Missouri. 



Explanation of the Plate. Plate V. Fig. 1, represents our 

 plant 14 natural size. Fig. 2, the flower, full size. 



