22. Ranunculus Bulbòsus L. Bulbous Buttercup. Yellow Weed Or Gowan

Fig. 1916

Ranunculus bulbosus L. Sp. Pl. 554. 1753.

Erect from a bulbous-thickened base, hairy, 6-18' high. Leaves petioled, 3-divided, the terminal division stalked, the lateral ones sessile or nearly so, all variously lobed and cleft, flowers bright yellow, about 1' broad; petals 5-7, much longer than the reflexed sepals, obovate, rounded; head of fruit globose, 5"-6" broad; achenes compressed, very short-beaked.

In fields and along roadsides, New England to North Carolina, Tennessee and Louisiana. Naturalized from Europe. May-June. In England the name Buttercups is chiefly applied to this species and to R. repens and R. acris; called also in middle English Kingcups, Goldcups, Butter-flowers and Blister-flowers. Frogwort. Pilewort. Golden knops. Cuckoo-buds. Pissabed. Horse-gold. St. Anthony's-turnip. May-July.

23. Ranunculus Pennsylvánicus L. F. Bristly Buttercup Or Crowfoo

Fig. 1917

Ranunculus pennsylvanicus L. f. Suppl. 272 1781.

Erect, branching, pilose-hispid, 1°-2° high, leafy. Leaves thin, 3-divided; divisions stalked, deeply 3-cleft, the lobes lanceolate, cuneate, acute, incised; flowers yellow, 3"-4" wide; petals equalling the reflexed sepals or shorter; head of fruit oblong or cylindric, 3" thick, sometimes 6" long; achenes smooth, pointed with a sharp beak one-third their length; receptacle conic, hairy.

In wet, open places, Nova Scotia to Georgia, British Columbia, Kansas and Colorado. June-Aug.

24. Ranunculus Macòunii Britton. Ma-Coun's Buttercup

Fig. 1918

Ranunculus hispidus Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 1:19. 1829.

Not Michx. 1803. Ranunculus Macounii Britton, Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci.

12: 3. 1892.

Erect or diffuse, hairy, branching, 1°-2° high. Leaves 3-divided, the blade 2-3' long, the divisions broadly * oblong to ovate, acute, cuneate, variously cleft and lobed; flowers 5"-6" broad, yellow, the petals exceeding the spreading or slightly reflexed calyx; head of fruit globose to oblong, 4" thick; achenes smooth, pointed with a sharp beak about one-fourth their length; receptacle obovoid.

Quebec and Ontario to Illinois, Minnesota and west to British Columbia and Washington, extending south in the Rocky Mountains to Arizona. Summer.

25. Ranunculus Rèpens L. Creeping Buttercup. Gold-Balls

Fig. 1919

Ranunculus repens L. Sp. Pl. 554. 1753.

R, Clintoni Beck, Bot. N. & Mid. States 9. 1833.

Generally hairy, sometimes only slightly so, spreading by runners and forming large patches. Leaves petioled, 3-divided, the terminal division, or all three stalked, all ovate, cuneate or truncate, acute, cleft and lobed, often blotched; flowers nearly 1' broad; petals obovate, much exceeding the spreading sepals; head of fruit globose, 4" in diameter; achenes margined, tipped with a stout short slightly bent beak.

Fields, roadsides, and in wet grounds, Newfoundland to Virginia, Ontario and British Columbia. Bermuda; Jamaica. Mainly introduced from Europe, but regarded as indigenous in its western range. Ram's-claws. Gold-knops. Butter-daisy. Horse-gold. Sitfast. Yellow gowan. Spotted-leaf buttercup. May-July.