Ranunculus. | RANUNCULACES. 21 
R. lappaceus is probably the most variable of the New Zealand Ranwnculi,. 
and certainly the most difficult to characterize. The above arrangement of its 
forms is mainly that given by Kirk, with the addition of the Tasmanian variety 
pimpinellifolius, which occurs in several places in the mountains of the South 
Island. But the student must bear in mind that the distinctions used to 
separate the so-called varieties are purely arbitrary, every one of them being 
connected with the others by numerous intermediates. It is often difficult to- 
separate some of the aberrant forms from the allied species, particularly from 
fk. foliosus, when, as sometimes happens, the scape is branched, and the 
peduncles shorter than the leaves. RR. plebeiws can generally be distinguished 
by its greater size, more divided leaves, branched flowering-stem, and reflexed 
sepals. 
24. R. foliosus, 7. Kirk, Students’ Fl. 14.—Stout or slender, 
4-12in. high, more or less hirsute with long soft tawny hairs, 
especially on the scapes and petioles. Rootstock short, stout- 
Stems or branches often numerous, erect or decumbent, leafy. 
Radical leaves numerous, on long petioles 3-6in. long, with broad 
sheathing bases; blade 4-14 in. diam., variable in outline, obovate 
or ovate or rounded, cuneate or rounded at the base, rarely 
reniform with a cordate base, coarsely toothed or incised, or 
3-lobed with the lobes again toothed or cut, both surfaces covered 
with long soft appressed hairs. Cauline leaves often opposite, or 
clustered towards the tops of the stems, like the radical but smaller 
and on shorter petioles. Peduncles variable, always shorter than 
the leaves ; in large specimens some often spring from among the 
radical leaves, and are 3-6in. high; others from the axils of the 
cauline leaves, and are seldom more than $-3in. Flower 4-4in. 
diam. or more. Sepals 5, oblong, spreading. Petals 5, narrow- 
oblong, with a gland near the base. Achenes smooth, somewhat 
turgid, hardly compressed ; style short, subulate. 
SourH Isntanp: Nelson — Fowler’s Pass, Kirk! near Lake Tennyson, 
Tl. F. C. Canterbury—Broken River, 7. F. C.; Hopkins River, Haast; Tas- 
man Valley, T. #.C. Westland—Otira Gorge, Cockayne! Teremakau, Petrie. 
Otago— Mountain valleys of the interior, not uncommon, Petrie! Altitudinal 
range 1000-4000 ft. December-March. 
An exceedingly variable plant, but on tbe whole readily distinguished by 
the branched stems and leafy habit, opposite or clustered cauline ieaves often 
with very broad sheathing bases, short stout peduncles which are much 
shorter than the leaves, and the somewhat turgid or bus slightly compressed 
achenes. Mr. Kirk’s type specimens are small and in poor condition, and do 
not represent the usual state of the species. 
25. R. subscaposus, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 5—EHrect or 
nearly so, 6-18 in. high, more or less covered in all its parts with 
short rigid appressed fulvous hairs. Rootstock short, stout. 
Radical leaves on slender petioles 3-6in. long; blade deltoid- 
cordate in outline, 1-14in. diam., 3-partite to the base; segments 
cuneate, more or less deeply and irregularly 3-7-toothed or -lobed,. 
lobes acute. Cauline leaves few, similar. Scape or stem shorter 
or longer than the leaves, 1—3-flowered. Flowers small, +-+in. 
diam. Sepals 5, spreading, hispid. Petals 5, narrow - oblong, 
