I. RANUNC UL A C EA2. 
9 
Itanunculus.~\ 
and who had studied them closely, long ago recorded his decided 
opinion, that all were mere varieties. IVIr. Bentham also, in his 
Handbook of the British Flora, unites all the species of this section 
into one, under the name of R. uquaticus, and enumerates only four 
varieties. Numerous intermediate forms are discovered every year : 
these, according to some, unite the already known species, accord- 
ing to others, are so many new ones : in the above we have endea- 
voured to pursue a middle path. We have not found the characters 
taken from the receptacle to vary, but we dare not assert that it does 
not, since we know that the hairiness of the achenes of R. aquatilis 
certainly does, and the hairiness is merely a continuation of that of 
the receptacle. 
** Achenes not transversely wrinkled. Petals white ; nectary without a 
scale. 
7. R. * alpestris'L. (alpine white C.) ; loaves glabrous, radical 
ones petiolate orbicular more or less 3 — 5-lobed, lobes at the 
extremity crenate, stem-leaves 1 — 2 sessile simple linear or 
deeply divided into 3—5 simple linear segments, stem mostly 
1 -flowered, petals obcordate. E. B. t. 2390. 
“ By little rills and among rocks on the mountains of Clova, An- 
gusshire, seldom flowering.” G. Don. 1S09. 11. 5. — Stem 3 — 6 
inches high. A specimen from Don in Herb. Brodie, which is 
marked “on rocks near the Head of Clova,” has the aspect of a wild 
one, but we still consider it a very doubtful native. 
*** Achenes not transversely wrinkled or obscurely so. Flowers yellow ; 
nectary with a small scale. 
f Leaves undivided. 
8. R. Lingua L. (great S .) ; leaves lanceolate subserrate 
sessile semiamplexicaul, stem erect glabrous, achenes minutely 
pitted with a broad ensiform beak. E. B. t. 100. 
Marshes, sides of lakes, and ditches ; not very general. y . 7 — 9. — 
Stem 2 — 3 feet high. Flowers large, handsome. 
9. R. ophioglossifulius Vill. (Serpent's Tongue S.) ; leaves 
oblong sessile, lower ones cordato-ovate petiolate, stem erect 
many-flowered, achenes obliquely ovate with a short point mar- 
gined, the sides tubercled. E. B. S. t. 2833. 
St. Peter’s Marsh, Jersey; Mr. C. C. Babington. It . 6 Avery 
distinct species, allied in the foliage to the following, but in its annual 
duration and the achenes to R. hirsutus. Flowers small ; heads of 
fruit large in comparison. 
10. R Flammula L. (lesser S.) ; leaves linear-lanceolate 
nearly entire petiolate, the lower ones ovato-lanceolat.e, stem 
decumbent at the base and rooting, achenes minutely pitted or 
smooth with a short or sometimes subulate point. — n. stem 
B 5 
