THE MEADOWS. 



93 



cups on earth. The mountain-lily (Ranunculus Li/aUii) is their queen. 

 This world-famed plant raises great leaves from its very thick root- 

 stock, each with a blade shaped like a saucer, sometimes more than 

 9 in. in diameter, and a stout stalk a foot or more in height, inserted 

 in the middle of the blade, and lifting it high from the ground. 



FIG. 42. The Mountain-lily (Ranunculus Li/allii), growing on 

 stony ground near source of River Rakaia. 



[Photo, M. C. Gudex. 



Excepting in the smaller R. Baurii, of South Africa, such leaf-form is 

 unknown in the buttercup family. In late November, December, 

 and early January, 7?. Lyallii puts forth a very tall stem, bearing 

 numbers of blossoms of snowy whiteness, there being frequently more 

 than thirty on one stalk, each as big as a five-shilling-piece (fig. 42). 



