CORN CROWSFOOT. CORN COCKLE. 



11 



The genus " Ranunculus " is very extensive, reaching to 

 eighty-five species; fifteen are natives of Britain. The species 

 are all herbaceous, generally of an acrid quality. The pre- 

 vailing colour of the flowers is yellow. They grow in cold 

 temperate climates, and some of the plants are Alpine. The 

 whole genus is very conveniently divided into two sections, 

 by the form of the leaves. 



The species which we now notice as a weed, is one of the 

 most virulent of its genus, especially when young; causing 

 inflammations and gangrene in the stomachs of sheep and 

 oxen, although it is eaten by them with great avidity. The 

 expressed juice of the plant is also fatal. 



The Ranunculus produces seeds in great abundance, and 

 the corn crowsfoot being an annual plant, nature has fur- 

 nished it with the prolific seed-bearing quality which attaches 

 to the plants of that period of duration, in order to compen- 

 sate for the short existence of the stem. No process of sum- 

 mer fallowing can kill the numerous seeds ; and as the lands 

 on which it grows are not suitable for drilled green crops, 

 there becomes a necessity that the wheat crops be drilled, in 

 order to give an opportunity of pulling the plants by hand 

 at the time when they are in full blossom, and when no seed 

 has been formed. It is frequently called ^' Hunger weed," 

 probably from its growing on the poorer soils. 



6. The " Corn cockle," or " Agostemma " of botany, is 

 a common weed in corn fields, mostly on clayey loams, or the 

 more loamy wheat fallows. It belongs to the class and order 

 " Decandria pentagynia " of Linneus, and to the natural 

 order " Caryophyllese" of Jussieu. 



Generic character. — Calyx : perianth one-leaved, coria- 

 ceous, tubulous, five-toothed, permanent. Corolla: petals 

 five, claws the length of the tube of the calyx ; border spread- 

 ing, obtuse. Stamina : filaments awl-shaped, five alternately 

 later than the other five, inserted into each claw of the petals ; 

 anthers simple. Pistil : germ ovate ; styles filiform, erect, the 

 length of the stamens ; stigmas simple. Pericarp : capsule 

 oblong, ovate, covered, one-celled, five-valved. Seeds very 

 many, kidney-shaped, dotted ; receptacles three, as many as 

 seeds ; the interior ones gradually longer. 



