6 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
Upright Buttercup. (Ranunculus acris, Linn.)— The flowers i inch across, yellow, 
terminating the stem and branches ; the sepals 5, spreading, downy ; the petals 5, spreading ; the 
stamens and carpels numerous. Stem 1-3 feet high, hairy, not furrowed; the leaves of the stem 
3-cleft from the base into 3 narrow (linear) lobes ; those of the root (radical) divided from the 
base into 3-7 deeply cut lobes (palmate). Root fibrous. \Plate 4. 
Very common. Meadows and on hill-sides. May — September. Perennial. 
Creeping Buttercup. (Ranunculus repens, Linn.)— Differing from the Upright 
Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) in having less spreading petals, more cup-shaped, a furrowed 
shorter stem, branches which run along the ground, and root and form another plant (runners), 
upper leaves with rather broader segments, and lower leaves divided from the base into 3 stalked 
lobes (ternately lobed), which are usually 3-cleft (palmate), the centre lobe having the longest stalk. 
Very common. Meadows, hedgerows, way-sides. May — August. Perennial. \Plate 4. 
Bulbous Buttercup. (Ranunculus bulbosus, Linn.)— Differing from the Upright and 
Creeping Buttercups in having turned-back sepals, a furrowed stem about 1 foot high, upper 
leaves divided from the base into 3 lobes which are again lobed, the lower leaves like those of the 
Creeping Buttercup (palmate), but more deeply lobed. Root bulbous, giving off thick fibres. 
Very common. Dry pastures and downs. May — August. Perennial. [ Plate 4. 
Pale Hairy Buttercup. (Ranunculus sardous, Crantz.)— Another similar species 
having the sepals turned back (reflexed), hairy ; the petals pale yellow, 1 inch across ; the fruit a 
head of achenes, each achene with small warts near the margins (tubercled). Stem 6-18 inches 
high, hairy, furrowed, the lower leaves stalked, and divided from the base into 3 lobes (ternate), 
and the upper ones stalkless (sessile), 3-5 lobed. 
Rather rare. Damp meadows, roadsides. June — October. Annual. 
Small-flowered Crowfoot. (Ranunculus parviflorus, Linn.)— Differing from the 
Pale Hairy Buttercup (Ranunculus sardous) in having flowers only \ inch across, a prostrate 
hairy stem, roundish or kidney-shaped (reniform) leaves, less divided, and hooked warts 
(tubercles) on the achenes. 
Not common. Dry gravelly or sandy places. May — August. Annual. 
Corn Crowfoot. (Ranunculus arvensis, Linn.)— Another similar species, with 5 sepals, 
yellowish-green and spreading ; 5 petals, pale yellow, not spreading, but cup-shaped ; and the 
achenes few and very spinous ; and the leaves all deeply 3-cleft from the base into narrow lobes. 
Poisonous. [ Plate 4. 
Common. Ploughed fields. May — August. Annual. 
Lesser Celandine. (Ranunculus Ficaria, Linn.)— Flowers about 1 inch across, on 
juicy stalks bearing few or no leaves; the sepals usually 3; the petals 8-12, of a glossy deep 
yellow ; the stamens numerous ; the fruit a head of achenes ; the flower stems short and juicy, 
the leaves being chiefly from the root (radical), stalked, kidney-shaped (reniform) or heart-shaped 
(cordate), and scalloped (crenate). Roots in oblong tubers. [ Plate x 
Very common ; one of our earliest spring flowers. March — May. Perennial. 
GLOBE-FLOWER. (TROLLIUS, LINN.) — Flowers large, yellow or lilac, terminal. Sepals 
5-15, like petals (petaloid) ; petals 5-15, minute, narrow, clawed; stamens numerous; carpels 
5 or more. Fruit a head of 5 or more follicles (dry, many-seeded fruits, opening down one 
side). Perennial herbs, with alternate leaves deeply lobed from the base (palmate). 
Mountain Globe-flower, Golden Ball. (Trollius europaeus, Linn.)— The only 
British species (as just described). The flowers i-i£ inches across, round; the sepals 5-15, 
