10 
I. RANUNCULACEiE 
often lobed. Stem-leaves digitately 3-5-parted, segments narrow, 
entire or toothed near the tip. Flowers \ in. diam., bright yellow. 
Achenes hairy, in globose heads. 
Mahasu, Narkunda, in forest ; April-June. — W. Himalaya, 6000-10,000 ft. 
Closely allied to the British R. auricomus (Goldilocks). 
2. Ranunculus sceleratus, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 19. Annual, 
glabrous, yellow-green. Stem usually 6-12 in., sometimes 1-3 ft., 
erect, succulent, hollow. Radical leaves |-lf in. across, long- 
stalked, deeply 3-lobed, segments lobed, obtusely toothed near the 
top. Stem-leaves shortly stalked, 3-parted, segments narrow, 
lobed and toothed. Flowers J in. diam., numerous, petals pale 
yellow. Sepals reflexed. Achenes glabrous, in oblong heads, 
ultimately becoming cylindrical and longer. 
River bed below Paniah, Simla; Sutlej valley; April-June. — Throughout 
N. India and Bengal, ascending to 5000 ft. — N. temperate regions (Britain, 
Celery-leaved Buttercup). 
3. Ranunculus diffusus, DC. ; FI Br. Ind. i. 19. Perennial, 
covered with soft spreading hairs. Stems decumbent, 6-12 in., 
producing runners from among the radical leaves rooting and 
forming fresh plants at the joints. Radical leaves 2-3 in. across, 
long-stalked, cordate, deeply 3-lobed ; segments lobed, sharply 
toothed, mid-lobe the longest giving the leaf an ovate outline. 
Stem-leaves similar but smaller and shortly stalked. Flowers 
J-| in. diam., long-stalked, bright yellow. Achenes in globose 
heads, glabrous, flattened, minutely dotted, margins thickened. 
Simla, common ; May-September. — Temperate Himalaya, 6000-10,000 ft. — 
Java. 
Closely allied to the British R. reopens. 
4. Ranunculus lsetus, Wall. ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 19. Perennial, 
covered with long closely adpressed hairs. Stems 1-2 ft., erect, 
without runners, usually much branched. Radical leaves 2-4 in. 
across, sometimes larger, long-stalked, deeply 3-lobed ; segments 
deeply lobed, sharply toothed, nearly equal in length giving the 
leaf a rounded outline. Stem -leaves similar but smaller and 
shortly stalked. Flowers 1 in. diam., long-stalked, bright yellow. 
Achenes in globose heads, glabrous, flattened, not dotted, margins 
thickened. 
Simla, Sutlej valley; May-September. — Temperate Himalaya, 4000-8000 
ft. — Tibet. 
Closely allied to the British R. acris. 
5. Ranunculus arvensis, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 20. Annual, 
pale green, slightly hairy on the upper parts, otherwise glabrous. 
Stem 6-24 in., erect, branching. Radical leaves 1-3 in., long- 
stalked, spathulate or wedge-shaped, 3-5-toothed at the tip, other- 
wise entire. Stem-leaves shortly stalked, deeply divided into 
