GISSING : FLORA OF WAKEFIELD. 



7 



A. nemorosa, L. "Wood Anemone. P. March. — April. Generally dis- 

 tribnted through the district. It is occasionally found with only three 

 sejDals. 



Eanunculus. Linn. Crowfoot. 

 R. aquatilis, L. Water Crowfoot. P. March — August. 



a. circinatus. Prequent in ditches and still waters. 



b. peltatus (f) Havercroft. 



c. tricliophyllus. Campsall. 



d. hederaceus. Common. 



All these varieties of R. aquatili^ seem to vary more or less every year, 

 even in places where they have been growing many years. In the variety 

 hederaceus I have noticed a peculiarity never seen by me in any of the others. 

 The flower stalk springing from a lower point and adhering to the stem up to 

 the next joint, where it diverges, thus making the flower-stalk double its 

 apparent length. 



R. Flammula, L. Lesser Spearwort. P. June — September. Common. 

 Varying much in form. 



R. Ficaria, L. Lesser Celandine or Pilewort. P. February — May. Com- 

 mon. This early favourite loves the sunshine and closes its flowers as 

 the day dies — opening again on the morrow — after a few days the life 

 ceases and the petals remain expanded and bleached. 



R, auricomus, L. Wood Crowfoot — Goldilocks. P. April — June. Com- 

 mon. In this neighbourhood the flowers are rarely perfect — two or 

 three petals in each generally being defective. A form is sometimes 

 found with the stem leaves quite hairy on both sides and the root leaves 

 hairy on the upper surface. 



R. sceleratus, L. Celery-leaved Crowfoot. P. May — July. Frequent. By 

 ponds and ditches ; varying in height from three or four inches to two 

 feet. 



R. acris, L. Upright Meadow Crowfoot. P. April — December. Common. 

 Sometimes with double flowers. Most of the species of Ranunculus are 

 poisonous, but this plant is most dangerous, and serious accidents have 

 happened to children from eating it. Like most of its genus the poison- 

 ous principle seems to be destroyed by drying — therefore it is freely 

 eaten by horses and cattle when mixed with hay, although they pass it 

 by when growiug. 



R. repens, L. Creeping Crowfoot. P. June — October. Common in corn- 

 fields and waste places. 



