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Transactions. 



Art. XV. — Ranunculus paucifolius T. Kirk : its Distribution and 

 Ecology, and the Bearing oj these upon certain Geological and 

 Phylogenetic Problems. 



By A. Wall, M.A., Professor of English, Canterbury College. 



[Bead before the New Zealavd Institute, at Chrislchurch, 4th-8th February, 1919 ; received 

 by Editor, 24th June, 1919 ; issued separately, 10th June, 1920.] 



Plates II-V. 



Contents., 



Historical . . . . .,. . . . . ' 



Comparison of Ranunculus chordorhizos and R. paucifolius 

 Habitat and Distribution — 



General 



Details of Distribution 

 Associations of the Area . . 

 Ecological : Main Problems involved — • 



General 



Relation to Geological Problems 



Origin of the Group to which it belonged 

 Conclusions 

 References 

 Postscript 



90 

 90 



92 

 93 

 94 



96 



97 



99 



103 



104 



105 



Historical. 



Ranunculus 'paucifolius was " raised to specific rank " by Kirk (1899, 

 p. 11), who separated it from R. chordorhizos Hook. f. 



The notable points in his description are : " Leaves 1 or 2 " ; " Scape 

 equalling the petioles "' ; " Achenes few, turgid, with a straight subulate 

 beak " ; " flowering season, December." 



Under R. paucifolius, Cheeseman (1906, p. 16) says, " Much more com- 

 plete material is required before a good description can be given of this 

 curious little plant. It is very close to the preceding species, but seems 

 sufficiently distinct in the less fleshy and more coriaceous habit ; fewer 

 leaves, which are broader, and much less divided ; longer scape, and 

 broader petals. Only one flowering specimen has been obtained." 



From Hooker's account of R. chordorhizos it is evident that Ranun- 

 culus paucifolius was first collected by Haast before the publication of the 

 Handbook (1867), though its discovery is accredited by Cheeseman to Enys 

 (1906, p. xxxiii), where it is stated that Enys's work in New Zealand began 

 in 1874. 



Comparison op Ranunculus chordorhizos and R. paucifolius, 



R. chordorhizos. 



In 1918 I obtained flowers of R. chordorhizos from two plants in my 

 garden at Christchurch brought from Mount Hutt (at c. 4,000 ft.) in 1917. 

 One of those also flowered in 1919. The flowering-date in Christchurch 

 (sea-level) was September. The flower is from 1 in. to 1^ in. in diameter. 

 The petals are from 5 to 8, and even more. 



