X. RANUNCUIACEiE. 
7 
Ranunculus.^ 
inches in height. Leaves erect narrow, linear-spathulate, fleshy. 
Scapes slender bearing a single, small, greenish flower. Receptacle 
of achenes at first short, then lengthening to from 1 — 3 inches. 
6. Ranunculus Linn. Crowfoot. Spearwort. 
Cal. of 5 (rarely 3) sepals, not prolonged at the base. Pet. 
5 (rarely many), with a nectary at the base. Achenes without 
awns. [In the pore or nectary of the petals of this, and of 
Myosurus, we observe an affinity with the tubular petals of 
Helleborus , and even of Trollius ; only, in the two latter, the 
petals are more altered in shape.] — Named from rana, a frog; 
these plants delighting to grow where frogs abound. 
* Achenes conspicuously transversely wrinkled. Petals white, with the 
claw yellow, nectary without a scale. 
1. R .ftidtans Lam. ( River C.') ; stem floating, leaves all sub- 
mersed capillaceo-multifid, their segments very long and parallel, 
petals obovate much larger than the calyx, receptacle of fruit 
conical hispid, style cylindrical. E. B. S. t. 2870. 
Lakes, rivers, and canals, in deep water. 2/.- 6, 7. 
2. R. circinutus Sibth. (rigid-leaved Water C .) ; stem floating, 
leaves all submersed flat roundish capillaceo-multifid, their seg- 
ments spreading all in the same plane, petals obovate much 
larger than the calyx, receptacle of fruit oblong hispid, style 
cylindrical. E. B. S. t. 2809. 
Lakes, ponds, and ditches. If-. 6 — 8. — Whatever be thought of 
the last species, we cannot believe this to be distinct from the fol- 
lowing. 
3. R. aqudtilis L. (common Water C.) ; stem floating submersed, 
leaves capillaceo-multifid, their segments spreading in all di- 
rections and forming a globular mass, floating leaves trifid or 
tripartite (occasionally wanting) their lobes cut or crenate, 
stipule-like appendages of upper leaves adhering to the petiole, 
petals obovate (usually much) larger than the calyx, receptacle 
of fruit hispid, carpels half-obovate. — a. Flowers rather large, 
petals persistent, floating leaves usually present. — a. hetero- 
phyllus, receptacle conical, stigma oblong, carpels laterally 
pointed. E. B. t. 101. R. heterophyllus Fries. — b. receptacle 
conical, stigma Ungulate (1. confusus, receptacle ovate-conical, 
carpels compressed narrowed upwards, stamens longer than the 
head of achenes. R. confusus Godr. — 2. Symei, receptacle long- 
conical, carpels inflated at the end, stamens short. R. Baudotii 
Syme .) — c. subpeltatus, receptacle ovate, stigma clavate, carpels 
very obtuse. R. peltatus Fries. — d. floribundus, receptacle 
globose, stigma Ungulate, carpels very obtuse. R. floribundus 
