SPECIES OF RANUNCULUS. 71 



R. arcticus (misprint for creticus), Buch ! Verzeichniss, 195, no. 300. 

 R. cortuscefolim, /?. sylvaticus, Webb et Berth. Phytogr. Canar. iii. part 

 2, 8? 



R. cortus&folius, /J. sylvestris, Seub. Fl. Azor. 42. 



R. cortus&folius, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4625 ! (hairs too spreadiug: de- 

 scription in part only), not Willd. 



R. megaphyllus, Steudel. 



Hab. In rupibus convallium (Eib. Frio, Kib. da Metade, de Fayal, de 

 Seisal, Serra d'Agoa, Boa Ventura, etc. etc.) Madera, ad alt. 2000- 

 5000 ped. ubique. 



From Madeiran specimens in the Banksian and Hookerian Herbaria, 

 from Masson, Lowe, Lemann, Vogel, etc., and from my own notes and 

 observations in Madeira on the spot. 



In its normal state, a, this is a very striking, large and handsome, 

 though somewhat coarse, rough, hairy plant, of almost gigantic size 

 and stature in its genus, and of a noble appearance from its ample, 

 bright-green, shining leaves, and very large, broad, crowded corymb of 

 numerous, large, handsome flowers, like enormous Buttercups, conspi- 

 cuous at considerable distances on the ledges, or within the clefts of 

 high rocks or cliffs in the ravines, which is their usual place of growth. 



Root very large, often (but not constantly) palmate or subpedate, 

 with large, thick, fleshy, tuberous divisions, which are mostly smooth 

 or naked. Stem from 2 to 4 feet high, or even more, and often as thick 

 as the little-finger, stout, firm, succulent, very erect and straight, much 

 branched upwards, the branches stiffly patent, clothed like the stem 

 with almost always close-pressed, opake, soft, simple hairs, varying in 

 quantity and length. Leaves of a peculiar light yellow-green, shining, 

 though clothed all over, generally copiously, with simple, never bulbous, 

 hairs, always immaculate, of a somewhat firm or rough, strong stiflish 

 feel or substance : the lowest two or three, of great size and beauty, 

 more or less incised between the five or six broad round shallow lobes, 

 but appearing undivided and simply orbicular, or reniform : their edges 

 finely and numerously cut, with fine sharp teeth : their petioles often a 

 foot long, clothed with adpressed hairs, and with the sheaths at their 

 base equally hairy. Flowers rather sweet-smelling, densely corymbose 

 and numerous, very large, H~H inches in diameter, the petals being 

 1-H inch long, bright, full golden shining yellow. Sepals softly- 

 hairy, very concave, horizontally patent, not retlexed, the edges of the 



