Wall. — Ranunculus paucifolius T . Kirk. 91 



The most striking feature of the flower (hitherto undescribed) is the 

 form of the sepals, which are lobed like the radical leaves, and one of 

 them in each flower is much larger than the rest, lobed and appearing like 

 the cauline leaves which form a sort of involucre in R. Haastii, but attached 

 so much higher that it should rather be termed a bract. The edges of 

 the petals are also lobed shallowly. The colour of the sepals is dark like 

 the leaves. I obtained one head of ripe achenes from my plants. . The 

 description of the achene in Kirk and Cheeseman seems to be quite exact. 



Specimens of the plants here used were sent to Kew for identification ; 

 there are no flowering specimens there, but my plants were identified as 

 R. chordorhizos. The locality (Moimt Hutt) is not far from Mount Somers 

 (the original locality), and the plant has been collected by Laing at Mount 

 Winterslow, between Mount Somers and Mount Hutt. 



R. paucifolius. 



I visited Castle Hill on the 8th November, 1919, and obtained specimens. 

 There had been a heavy fall of snow on the 1st and 2nd November, and 

 most of the flowers were much damaged. Between twenty and thirty 

 blooms were observed. The flowering-date is late October and November, 

 not December (Kirk, Cheeseman). I was able to get about a dozen 

 specimens which had flowered after the disappearance of the snow. No 

 buds were coming on, and the season was rather backward than otherwise. 



The flower is large and showy, averaging about H in. in diameter when 

 fully expanded. I measured one exactly 2 in. in diameter. 



The number of petals 'is from 5 to 8 or even more ; the most usual 

 number seemed to be 6. The sepals are 5. Most of the plants bear one 

 flower only, but several were observed with two. The scape is very short, 

 not more than 1 in. in any of my specimens. There are no cauline leaves 

 as in R. Haastii ; the sepals are pale yellow and have nothing of the 

 peculiar character of those of • R. chordorhizos. The edges of the petals, 

 unlike those of R. chordorhizos, are entire or very nearly so, the margin 

 being very slightly wavy. 



I obtained ripe achenes at Castle Hill in December, 1918. The 

 description in Kirk is inexact, and the achene is not distinguishable from 

 that of R. chordorhizos. 



I may add that I have in cultivation seven plants brought from Castle 

 Hill in 1918. All are thriving, but none flowered in 1919. 



The two species having been grown close together, the following points 

 of comparison may be noted. The general coloration of the two is very 

 similar and very curious ; R. chordorhizos is, however, a little darker than 

 R. paucifolius. The leaf of R. chordorhizos has the segments distinctly 

 recurved ; those of R. paucifolius are nearly flat. R. paucifolitis is a good 

 deal the larger plant in every way. The leaf of R. paucifolius is pitted, 

 but not so deeply as that of R. chordorhizos. The leaves of both species 

 are pitted when fresh, not only " when dry " (Kirk, Cheeseman). 



To summarize the new facts resulting from these observations : — 

 (1.) R. chordorhizos has recurved leaves, pitted while fresh. 

 (2.) R. chordorhizos has a flower about H in. in diameter (not " 1 in."). 

 (3.) The sepals of R. chordorhizos are lobed, and have something of the 



character of a cauline leaf or bract. 

 (4.) The number of petals of R. chordorhizos is from 5 to 8 or more. 

 (5.) The edge of the petals of R. chordorhizos is lobed or crenate. 



