In studying the transformation groups generated by holomorphic vector fields V(z) d/dz on ℂ, I've noticed the (surely well-known) fact that the complex quadratic vector fields: {(a z<sup>2</sup> + b z + c) d/dz | (a,b,c) ∊ ℂ<sup>3</sup>} form precisely the Lie algebra whose nonzero elements generate the linear fractional transformations, i.e., PSL(2,ℂ). * Is there some underlying reason for this? (Beyond direct calculation, which provides an easy proof.) Other than the further Lie algebras {0}, {a d/dz}, and {(a z + b) d/dz} over ℂ of trivial, constant, and linear (affine) vector fields, there seem to be no other polynomial finite-dimensional Lie algebras of vector fields on ℂ. * Is there some easy-to-explain reason for this? The next "simplest" such polynomial Lie algebras of vector fields on C *seem* to be those defined by all polynomial and all rational functions: (*) **V**<sub>P</sub> := {P(z) d/dz | P(z) ∊ C[z]} and **V**<sub>R</sub> := {R(z) d/dz | R(z) ∊ C(z)}. * Contrariwise, do there exist finite-dimensional Lie algebras of vector fields on ℂ defined by rational functions -- other than the polynomial ones mentioned above? * In case **V**<sub>P</sub> and/or **V**<sub>R</sub> generate well-studied (infinite-dimensional) Lie groups of transformations of ℂ, then what are these groups? [Note: It's not hard to compute formulas for such transformations -- the flows -- directly from an expression for the vector field in terms of its zeroes (and poles, if any).] * In any case, are there standard names for the Lie algebras **V**<sub>P</sub> and **V**<sub>R</sub> ? * References to the above matters would also be appreciated.