OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. gl 
sufficiently moist. Both the species and variety are natives of this country, and both are poisonous from their 
acridity. Though the species is called the buttercup, from the vulgar notion that the cows eating it makes the 
butter yellow in spring ; the fact is, that no cow will touch it, and that its long stalks may be seen standing in 
great abundance in pastures, all the grass of which has been eaten off quite close by cows. 
4.— RANUNCULUS AMPLEXICAULIS Lin. THE STEM-CLASPING RANUNCULUS. 
SYNONVires. — Pyrenean Ranuuculus. Plantain-leaved Crowfoot. I Specific Charactf.r. — Leaves ovate-acuminate, 8tem-cla«pirg. Stem 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 266 ; and our Jig 3, in Plate 5. I many-flowered. Root fascicled. 
Descbiption, &c. — Tins very pretty species is known by its undivided glaucous leaves, which clasp the stem 
at their base ; and its white flowers, which are sometimes slightly tinged with pink or purple. The plant grows 
erect, only branching in the flower-stem near the top, and thus taking up but little room in gardens. It is quite 
hardy, and will grow in any soil and situation which is not too dry. It is a native of the Alps and the Pyrenees, 
whence it was introduced in 1633 ; it flowers in April and May, and it is well deserving of cultivation, though 
it is very seldom seen in gardens. 
6.— RANUNCULUS GRAMINEUS Lin, THE GRASS-LEAVED RANUNCULUS. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 164; and out fig. 2, iu Plate 5. I Stem erect, quite smuotb, branching. Scales of the petals tubulai'. 
Specific Character. — Leaves lanceolate or liuear, quite entire. | Root fascicled. 
Description, &c. — This species is known by its grass-like leaves and large flowers. It is a native of France, 
Spain, and Portugal, and also of England and "Wales. Unlike most of the other species, it thrives most in a 
dry soil. It is very seldom seen in gardens, but it well deserves to be cultivated. 
6.— RANUNCULUS PARNASSIFOLIUS Lin. THE PARNASSIA-LEAVED CROWFOOT, 
Synonymes. — R. montanus Tourne. ; R. cordatus Guid. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 386 ; and our^. 6, in Plate 5. 
Specific Character. — Radical leaves stalked, rather heart-shaped, 
ovate-roundish ; cauline ones sessile, ovate-lanceolate. Peduncles 
hairy. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — A very handsome dwarf plant with large white flowers, and leathery roundish leaves, 
very much like those of a Cyclamen. There are certainly five or six flowers on every plant ; and the petioles of 
the leaves are very much dilated at the base. The stems are pink, and the calyx of the flowers, and sometimes 
even the corolla, are tinted with the same colour. There is a variety with smaller flowers and acute leaves. This 
species is found wild on the Alps and the Pyrenees, in fissures of rocks near to the boundary of perpetual snow. 
It was introduced in 1709. 
7— RANUNCULUS MONSPELIACUS Lin. MONTPELIER CROWFOOT. 
Specific Character. — Leaves woolly ; radical ones three-lobed ; 
lobes wedge-shaped and trifidly dentate ; upper ones three-parted, 
entire lobes linear. Stem erect, few flowered ; calyx reflezed. Car- 
pels forming an ovate spike. 
Synonymes. — R. Illyricus Besl. ; R. saxatilis Batb. ; R. Phila- 
delpliicus Hort. 
Engravings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. t. 94 j and our Jig. 1, in 
Plate 5. 
Description, &c. — A very showy plant with large yellow flowers, and clustered tubercled roots, differing 
however from those of the Asiatic Ranunculus by having fibres interspersed. It is a native of Montpelier, whence 
it was introduced about 1823 ; and it is quite hardy in British gardens. It should be grown in light rich soil, 
and it is increased by dividing the root. 
