14 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
9.—THE WOOD CROW-FOOT, OR GOLDILOCKS. (R. auricomus, Lin.') 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. G24 ; 2d edit., t. 788. I" cleft, notched ; stem-leaves divided to the base into linear segments ; 
Specific Character —Radical leaves kidney-shaped, deeply three- | stem many-flowered ; calyx coloured. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This species has the root-leaves kidney-shaped, while those of the stem are cut to the 
base into very slender segments ; the shape of the two kinds being so very different, that no one could 
suppose, on seeing them detached, that they belonged to the same plant. The flowers are rather small, and 
the petals have no scale at the base. The plant, also, is not acrid, and hence it is sometimes called the 
sweet Crow-foot. It is very common in the North of England and Scotland, but it is rarely seen in the 
neighbourhood of London. The name of Goldilocks, which is given to this plant, is not, however, peculiar to 
it; as, in the midland districts of England, the beautiful Hair Moss (Polytrichum commune) bears the same 
appellation, and certainly is much better entitled to it, as, in autumn, it hangs down like rich tresses of 
golden hair. 
THE WHITE ALPINE CROW-FOOT. (R. alpestris, Lin.) 
This species is very rarely found in Great Britain, though it is common on the Austrian Alps, where it 
appears immediately on the melting of the snow. The flowers are white, and very pretty. 
There are several other British species of Ranunculus belonging to this division, but they are not sufficiently 
ornamental to require a further notice. 
§ 3. Aquatic species. 
10.— THE WATER CROW-FOOT. (Ranunculus aquatilis, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 101 ; 2d ed., t. 795 ; and our Jig. 3, I under water, above water three-parted, with cuneiform lobes toothed 
in PI. 2. at the end ; petals obovate, larger than the calyx ; fruit hispid, with 
Specific Character. —Stem floating ; leaves in capillary segments I rigid bristles. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —This is a most beautiful plant, and, in the month of May, the ponds and other pieces of 
still water on which it grows appear to be covered with a mantle of silver. The leaves are very curious; those 
that are below water being cut into very fine segments, while those above water are broad and entire, so that 
they may float on the surface. Sometimes when the plants grow close together, and in shallow water, the 
leaves are cut into moderately broad lobes, and are all alike. It generally happens that the poisonous properties 
of plants are increased by their growing in or near water, but that is not the case with this Ranunculus, as it is 
more wholesome than any of the other species of the genus; and it is eaten in large quantities by the cattle at 
Ringwood, in Dorsetshire, and other places. 
11.—THE IVY-LEAVED CROW-FOOT. (Ranunculus hederaceus, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 2003 ; 2nd edit., t. 796. 1 shaped, with three or five lobes, entire, smooth. Stem creeping. 
Specific Character. —Fruit wrinkled. Leaves roundish, kidney- | (Smith). 
Description, &c.—This is a very curious little plant, with a creeping stem : leaves like those of the 
Ivy-leaved Geranium ; and very small white flowers. It is generally found in moist places, or very shallow- 
pools, lying on the surface of the ground, or the water. 
