4 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
Common Mousetail. (Myosurus minimus, Linn.)— The only British species (as just 
described). The flower stalks (scapes) 1-5 inches high, the petals pale greenish-yellow, and the 
leaves undivided, narrow and fleshy. 
Rather rare. Sandy cornfields and gravel pits, in the eastern counties. April — June. Annual. 
MARSH MARIGOLD. (CALTHA, LINN.) — Flowers large, few, yellow, in clusters. Sepals 5 
or more, brilliant yellow, like petals (petaloid) ; petals o; stamens numerous; carpels 5-10, 
many-seeded. Fruit a head of follicles (dry, many-seeded fruits, opening down one side). 
Smooth herbs, with the leaves chiefly from the root (radical), stalked, heart-shaped (cordate), 
growing in damp places. The root stout, creeping. 
Marsh Marigold, King-cup, Water Blobs, Water Caltrops, Mary-Buds, Meadow 
Rout. (Caltha palustris, Linn.) — The only British species (as just described), of which 
there are five or six varieties, the differences between which are very slight. The golden- 
yellow flowers are from 1-2 inches across; the stems from 8-18 inches high, thick and juicy ; the 
upper leaves stalkless (sessile), the root leaves large, stalked, roundish, heart-shaped (cordate) 
at the base or kidney-shaped (reniform), all with more or less scalloped (crenate) margins and 
membranous stipules. \Plate 3. 
Very common. Marshy places, by the sides of streams, pools, &c. March — June. Perennial. 
BUTTERCUP, CROWFOOT, SPEARWORT, ETC. (RANUNCULUS, LINN.) — Flowers 
in the British species yellow or white, in very loose terminal clusters (panicles) ; sepals 5, 
rarely 3 ; petals 5 or more, with a honey bag (nectary) at the base, white or yellow ; stamens 
numerous, yellow ; carpels many, 1 -seeded. Fruit a head of achenes. Herbs with entire, lobed, 
or compound leaves, sometimes with membranous stipules. 
Section i. — Water Plants with White Petals which have Yellow Bases. 
This is a puzzling group of plants in which there are about 10 species, which with their 
varieties amount to 24 different plants. The most noticeable differences are in the leaves and 
the size of the flowers. Only a few, pointing out the principal characteristics, will be 
described here. 
Water Crowfoot. (Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth.)— The flowers small; no floating 
leaves, the leaves under water (submerged) almost stalkless (sessile), round in outline, divided into 
short narrow (linear) segments spreading in one flat rigid plane when taken from the water. 
Common. Ponds. June — August. Perennial. 
Water Crowfoot. (Ranunculus fluitans, Lam.) — A similar species. The flowers 
large ; the floating leaves none ; the leaves under water (submerged) with short stalks, narrowly 
wedge-shaped, divided into long, narrow (linear), rigid, parallel segments. 
Common. Rivers, running water. June — August. Perennial. 
Water Crowfoot. (Ranunculus heterophyllus, Web.)— Another similar species. 
The flowers large ; the floating leaves on long stalks, round and deeply 3-lobed, the leaves under 
water (submerged) much cut into narrow (linear) segments, which collapse when taken from 
the water. 
Not common. Ponds and ditches. June — August. Perennial. 
Water Crowfoot. (Ranunculus peltatus, Sehrank.)— Another similar species. The 
flowers large; the floating leaves on long stalks, kidney-shaped (reniform) and heart-shaped 
(cordate) at the base, cut into 3 lobes, the side lobes being again lobed, and all with scalloped 
