Spec Plant Willd. iv. 1307. Cl. 13. Ord. 6. Polyandria Polygynia. Nat. ord. Ranunculaceae. G. 1086. Calyx five-leaved. Petals five, with a melliferous pore within the claws. Seeds naked.

* With simple leaves.

Species 1. R. Flammula, Lesser Spearwort. Eng. Bot. t. 387. Fl. Dan. t. 515. Curt. Fl. Lond. 6. t. 37. Med. Bot. v. 5. p. 54. t.15.

* * With divided leaves.

Species 45. R. acris. Upright Meadow Crowfoot. Eng. Bot. t. 652. Curt. Flor. Lond. 1. t. 39. Med. Bot. 3d edit. v. 3. p. 482.t.172.

1. Ranunculus Flammula.

Officinal. Ranunculus Flammula herba, recens, Dub. The fresh herb of Lesser Spearwort. Syn. Renoncule petite Douve (F.).

This indigenous species of ranunculus is common in moist and marshy places; flowering in May and June, and continuing in flower the greater part of the summer. The root consists of long, simple fibrils, united in fascicles. The stems are spreading, somewhat decumbent, round, smooth, branching, and leafy. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, and supported on long, channelled petioles, dilated at the base, near the root; linear-lanceolate on the upper part of the stem; pointed, smooth, sometimes entire, occasionally sparsely serrated. The flowers are of a bright yellow colour, shining, supported on the extremities of the stems, solitary, or on bifurcated peduncles. The calyx is reflex and smooth; the nectary is minute; the seeds are smooth.

1 Underwood, Diseases of Children, 4th ed. i. 45.

Qualities,-Like all the species of ranunculus, lesser spear-wort is acrid and caustic; but its acrimony is diminished by drying, and altogether destroyed by boiling water.

Medical properties and uses.-The fresh herb is rubefacient and epispastic: the distilled water is emetic, and is recommended by Dr. Withering as the best emetic in cases of poisoning: it operates as rapidly and with less distress to the patient than sulphate of zinc.

2. Ranunculus acris.

Officinal. Ranunculus acris, folia, Dub. The leaves of Upright Meadow Crowfoot.

Syn. Bouton d'Or (F.).

This species of ranunculus is also indigenous. It is common in meadows and waste places; flowering in June and July. The root is tuberose, furnished with long simple fibres. The stem is erect, about two feet in height, somewhat villous, furnished with few leaves, and branching above. The leaves are tripartite, quinquepartite, and multifidous; the radical leaves are supported on long petioles; the upper are nearly sessile and linear. The flowers are terminal, large, of a brilliant yellow colour, supported on round hairy peduncles. The calyx is spreading and hairy; the nectary is covered with an emarginate scale.

Qualities. - The leaves are bitter and acrid to the taste1; and inflame the skin when they are applied to it.

Medical properties and uses-The leaves of upright meadow crowfoot are rubefacient. They are bruised and applied as a remedy in scabies, and some other cutaneous diseases, in Norway; and in Iceland are used as a vesicatory. It is probable that they have found a place in the Dublin Pharmacopoeia on account of their rubefacient properties.