13. R. recurvàtus, Poir. (Hooked C.) Hirsute, 1–2° high; leaves of the root and stem nearly alike, long-petioled, deeply 3-cleft, large; the lobes broadly wedge-shaped, 2–3-cleft, cut and toothed toward the apex; petals shorter than the reflexed calyx, pale.—Woods, common. May, June.
[=][=] Style long and attenuate, stigmatose at the tip, persistent or the upper part usually deciduous; early root-leaves only 3-parted, the later 3–5-foliolate; petals bright yellow, much larger than the calyx (except n. 18).
14. R. fasciculàris, Muhl. (Early C.) Low, ascending, 5–9´ high, pubescent with close-pressed silky hairs; root a cluster of thickened fleshy fibres; radical leaves appearing pinnate, the long-stalked terminal division remote from the sessile lateral ones, itself 3–5-divided or parted and 3–5-cleft, the lobes oblong or linear; petals often 6 or 7, spatulate-oblong, twice the length of the spreading calyx; carpels scarcely margined, tipped with a slender straight or rather curved beak.—Dry or moist hills. April, May.
15. R. septentrionàlis, Poir. Low, hairy or nearly glabrous; stems ascending, or in wet ground some of them procumbent or forming long runners; leaves 3-divided, the divisions all stalked (or at least the terminal one), broadly wedge-shaped or ovate, unequally 3-cleft or parted and variously cut, never pinnately compound; petals obovate, much larger than the spreading calyx; carpels strongly margined, pointed by a stout straightish beak. (R. repens, of Manual, mainly.)—Moist or shady places, etc., May–Aug.—Extremely variable in size and foliage, commencing to flower by upright stems in spring before any long runners are formed.
[=][=][=] Style subulate, stigmatose along the inner margin, mostly persistent.
16. R. rèpens, L. In habit and foliage closely similar to the last species; leaves frequently white-variegated or spotted; commencing to flower somewhat later.—In low grounds; generally in waste grounds near the coast and probably introduced from Europe, but indigenous westward.
17. R. Pennsylvánicus, L. f. (Bristly C.) Stout and erect from a usually annual root, hirsute with widely spreading bristly hairs, leafy to the top, 1–2° high; leaves all ternately divided or compound, the stalked leaflets unequally 3-cleft, sharply cut and toothed, acute; flowers inconspicuous; calyx reflexed; head of carpels oblong.—Wet places, common. June–Aug.
18. R. hìspidus, Hook. (not Michx. or DC.). Resembling the last, but the ascending or reclining stems few-leaved, rarely if ever rooting, not always hirsute; petals (about 3´´ long) surpassing the hardly reflexed and soon deciduous calyx; achenes with a stout straight beak, in a globose or oval head.—On the northern shore of Lake Superior, and north and westward; probably in N. Minn.
R. bulbòsus, L. (Bulbous C. or Buttercups.) Hairy; stem erect from a bulb-like base, 1° high; radical leaves 3-divided; the lateral divisions sessile, the terminal stalked and 3-parted, all wedge-shaped, cleft and toothed; peduncles furrowed; petals round, wedge shaped at base; calyx reflexed; carpels tipped with a very short beak.—Fields; very abundant only in E. New England; rare westward. May–July.—Leaves appearing as if pinnate. Petals often 6 or 7, deep glossy yellow, the corolla more than an inch broad. (Nat. from Eu.)
R. àcris, L. (Tall C. or Buttercups.) Hairy; stem erect (2–3° high); leaves 3-divided; the divisions all sessile and 3-cleft or parted, their segments cut into lanceolate or linear crowded lobes; peduncles not furrowed; petals obovate, much longer than the spreading calyx.—Fields; common, especially eastward. June–Aug.—Flower nearly as large as the last, but not so deep yellow.—The Buttercups are avoided by cattle, on account of their very acrid or even blistering juice, which property, however, is dissipated in drying when these plants are cut with hay. (Nat. from Eu.)