390 MESSRS. P. MACOWAN AND H. BOLUS ON 



Noyitates Capenses : Descriptions of New Plants from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. By P. Mac O wan, Esq., B.A., and 

 H. Bolus, Esq., F.L.S. 



[Read November 18, 1880.] 



Ranunculus (§Hecatonia) Baueii, MacOw., n. sp. — Caulo 

 solitario, nudo, glabro, 1-3-cephalo ; foliis radicalibus longe petio- 

 latis peltatis glabris crenatis, subtus pallidis venosis ; calyce 

 glabro ; petalis luteis anguste obovatis, basi attenuatis, fovea 

 nnda; carpellis oblique ovatis subcarinatis, rugis prominulis 

 anastomosantibus notatis, rostro brevi uncinate 



Collum breve incrassatum. Badices plures carnosa? 2-3-polli- 

 cares, 8 millirn. crassse. Caulis 3"50-4*50 decim. longus, glaber. 

 Folia omnia radicalia orbiculata peltata, 2'50-5*00 centim. diam., 

 supra saturate viridia, subtus pallidiora venosa ; petiolis 1*25—1*50 

 decim. longis, striatis. Elores lutei, 175 centim. lati. Inflo- 

 rescentia turn e 2-3 pedunculis pseudo-paniculata quum termi- 

 nals monocephala ; bracteis ovatis, grosse dentatis. (v. s. s.) 



Hah. In graminosis subbumidis summi montis Bazija in Terra 

 Kaffrorum (Ngangelizwe), alt. 4000 ped. ; legit Rev. B. Baur. 



Ranunculus is but scantily represented in South Africa. The 

 discovery of this very distinct species, by the persevering labours 

 of the collector whose name it bears, adds one more to the two 

 previously known endemic representatives of the genus. The 

 material to hand, though ample for description, is much injured 

 by insects ; hence the publication of a figure, though very 

 desirable, is deferred for the present. Among some fragments 

 from Cooper's collections I recognize a leaf belonging to this 

 plant. Although in every other respect conformable, it is fully 

 3 inches in diameter. Hence the specimens sent by Mr. Baur 

 hardly represent the maximum size of the plant*. 



* [Specimens are in the Kew Herbarium from Basuto-land, collected by Mr. 

 Cooper, with leaves varying from 4-5 in. diam., and inflorescence a lax corymbose 

 cyme of 10 or more flowers ; also from Vaal Kiver (radical leaves), Dr. Suther- 

 land, and Transvaal (Steen-kampsberg), Mr. Nelson. In Mr. Cooper's specimens 

 the petals are numerous, about 13-17, oblong-oblanceolate, and the flowers 

 nearly $ inch diam. Excepting in the narrow petals, this plant seems nearly 

 allied to B. Lyallii, Hook, f., of New Zealand, in which species, however, the 

 flowers are white.— D. Oliver,] 



