Note 8 — Chapter VIII
Reading edition
Description of the water ranunculus in America by Dr. Darlington, of West Chester, Pa., in his Flora Cestrica:—
“Ranunculus, Linn., (Latin rana, a frog, the plant often growing where frogs abound.)
“Ranunculus aquatilis, Linn., water ranunculus; Vulgo, river crowfoot.
“Root perennial. Stems numerous from the root, procumbently floating, nine to eighteen inches long, very slender, smooth, jointed, branching, and usually throwing out a couple of filiform roots at the joints. Leaves alternate, one at each joint, ... segments half an inch to an inch long.... Petals white or ochroleucous, yellow at base....
“Habitat, flowing waters; Brandywine, frequent. Flowers June to August.
“Observation.—I have often found this plant entirely submersed (and usually in swift-running water) so deep that the flowers certainly never reached the surface. Professor De Candolle enumerates five varieties of this species, four of which Professor Hooker gives as natives of British America; but I have only met with the present one in this county, (Chester County, Pa.)”