are not of so long duration, nor so ornamental as
some others of the same family.

It seldom exceeds a foot in height, and, on this account, may be
regarded as a suitable rock-plant.

It rarely ripens its seeds with us, but is readily increased either by
cuttings or layers; succeeds best in a pure air and a situation
moderately dry.

Like most other American plants, it is of modern introduction, was
cultivated by Mr. MILLER, in 1758, and figured in his Icones.

[164]

RANUNCULUS GRAMINEUS. GRASS-LEAVED CROWFOOT.

_Class and Order._

POLYANDRIA POLYGNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 5-phyllus. _Petala_ 5 intra ungues poro mellifero. _Semina_
nuda.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

RANUNCULUS _gramineus_ foliis lanceolato linearibus indivisis, caule
erecto laevissimo paucifloro. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p.
515._ _Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 265._

RANUNCULUS gramineo folio bulbosus. _Bauh. Pin. 181?_

RANUNCULUS montanus folio gramineo. _Bauh. Pin. 180._

RANUNCULUS gramineus. Grasse leafed Crowfoot. _Park. Parad. p. 218. 221.
f. i._

[Illustration: No 164]

This species of Ranunculus, an inhabitant of the dry pastures South of
France and Italy, and a hardy herbaceous plant of ready growth,
recommends itself by the earliness of its flowering and the delicate
glaucous colour of its foliage. PARKINSON figures it with
double flowers, though he describes it with semi-double ones only; we
have not observed either of these varieties in the gardens about London,
they have most probably fallen victims to the rage for novelty, at the
shrine of which many a fair and goodly flower is yearly sacrificed.

It flowers towards the end of April, and is propagated by parting its
roots in autumn.

The synonyms of this and other species of Ranunculus described in
GERARD'S _Fl. Gallopr._ are very inaccurately quoted in
Professor MURRAY'S edition of the _Syst. Vegetab._

[165]

PELARGONIUM CORDIFOLIUM. HEART-LEAVED GERANIUM.

_Class and Order._

MONADELPHIA HEPTANDRIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 5-partitus: lacinia suprema, definente in tubulum capilarem,
nectariferum, secus pedunculum decurrentem. _Cor._ 5-petala,
irregularis. _Filam_. 10 inaequalia: quorum 3. (raro 5) castrata.
_Fructus_ 5-coccus, rostratus: rostra spiralia introrsum barbata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

PELARGONIUM _cordatum_ umbellis multifloris, foliis cordatis acutis