Spring Flora of Oklahoma 
47 
IV. MYOSURUS L. 
Small, annual herbs, with fibrous roots, tufted, basal, 
linear or linear-spatulate, entire leaves and 1-flowered 
scape. Sepals 5, long spurred at the base. Petals the same 
number or none, when present greenish-yellow. Stamens 
5-25, about equaling the sepals. Pistils numerous, borne 
on a central axis. Ovule one, suspended. Achenes apiculate 
or aristate. 
1. Myosurus minimus L. Mouse-tail. Low, glabrous, F-6' 
high, the scape at length surpassing the leaves and the elongated 
receptacle attaining the length of l'-2\ Leaves all basal, 2'-4' long. 
Narrowly spatulate to linear, blunt. Petals present, small. Achenes 
glabrous, apiculate. 
In moist places. April-July. Common. 
V. RANUNCULUS (Tourn.) L. 
Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, usually 
deeply-lobed or parted. Flowers axillary or in corymbs, 
white or yellow. Sepals 3-5. Petals 3-5, flat, with a small 
pit or scale inside at the narrowed base. Stamens usual¬ 
ly numerous. Pistils few or several in a head. Achenes 
flattened, pointed. 
1. Ranunculus sceleratus L. Celery-leaved Crowfoot. Stout, 
glabrous or nearly so, 6'-24' high, freely branching, stem hollow, 
sometimes lt4' thick. Basal leaves thick, 3-5-lobed, on long and 
broad petioles, the blade P-2' broad, reniform or cordate, those of 
the stem petioled or the upper sessile, deeply lobed or divided. Flow¬ 
ers yellow, numerous 3"-4" broad, the petals about equaling the calyx. 
Head of the fruit oblong or cylindric. 
In moist soil. April-August. Oklahoma County. 
VI. VIORNA Reichb. 
Vines or erect perennial herbs, with opposite, pinnately- 
compound or simple leaves. Flowers mostly solitary. Sep¬ 
als 4 or 5, petal-like, erect or converging. Petals none. 
Stamens numerous, parallel with the sepals. Pistils num¬ 
erous. Styles plumose or silky. Achenes flattish, the long 
styles persistent. 
1. Viorna Pitcher! (T. & G.) Britton. PiTcHEr’S Leather- 
