10 CGLASS-BOOK OF BOTANY. 
part in the formation of the fruit, they materially aid in bring- 
ing it about. 
ne now learned something of the general structure of the common 
see nni nou it will be advisable to take examples of all the other 
kinds of buttercups you can find in your neighbourhood, and compare 
them with that just gone over.* Of course, it will depend very much upon 
your particular locality in New Zealand as to what species you will come 
across, but the following are among the commoner species :— 
Ranunculus plebeiuvs. Similar in most respects to A. repens, but with 
erect stem, and more hairy. Common in open grassy ground 
which has not been cultivated. 
R. lappaceus. Also common along with the preceding. The leaves 
are simple (not compound), undivided or 3-lobed ; flowers some- 
times with only 3 or 4 petals. “5. : 
R. rivularis grows, as its name implies, in wet ground. It is per- 
fectly glabrous (i.e., destitute of hairs); leaves variable in shape; 
peduncles long and slender, usually ending in a single flower ; 
petals varying from 5 to 10, and occasionally white-coloured. 
R. acaulis. A little, creeping, glabrous species, common in damp sandy 
or gravelly ground, particularly near the sea-side. Leaves 
small, 3-foliolate, usually with undivided leaflets. 
R. bulbosus. An introduced species, very common in many parts. 
The stem is erect, and much swollen at the very base ; the leaves 
are much divided. ; 
R.acris. (Introduced.) A common, tall, hairy species. Leaves 3 to 
7-partite®F lowers lin. diameter. 
R. parviflorus. (Introduced.) Particularly common in the North 
Island. eaves simple, 3-lobedor undivided. Peduncles usually 
springing from opposite the leaves, and not in the leaf-axils. 
Flowers small, sepals turned back; the achenes with straight 
styles, and their surface covered with small rough hooked 
points, 
Rh. sceleratus. (Introduced.) Particularly common in the interior 
of Otago, usually growing in damp ground. Quite glabrous, 
branches erect, leaf-segments narrow, thalamus elongated, with 
small polished achenes. 
(This list isintended chiefly to enable teachers and others to recognise 
the different species, but only the most salient features are mentioned.) 
In all these species of buttercup you will find that the general cha- 
racters are very similar; itis only in details—and sometimes in very small 
details—that they differ. And at this point you may note that to all 
plants botanists have given two names. The first of these is the generic 
name, or that of the genws to which the plant belongs, and is either 
derived from Latin or Greek, or is a Latin noun made up from some 
proper name. Thus, Geraniwm is from the Greek gerdnos, a crane (from 
the form of the fruit) ; chickweed belongs to the genus Stellaria, derived 
from the Latin stella, a star (in allusion to the star-like flowers) ; while 
some New Zealand alpine plants have been named Hectorella and Haastia, 
in honour of Drs. Hector and von Haast respectively. The second name 
—the specific, or that of the species—is always a Latin adjective, or a 
* For class-work the pupils should have one of the other kinds given 
to them, and be asked to compare it with the description of R. repens, 
noting down all points of difference which they observe, and carefully 
drawing those parts which differ. In this way every available species of 
Ranunculus in the neighbourhood should be gone through, and thus the 
type, as well as its variations, will be impressed on the mind. 
