RANUNCULUS LYALLII. 
Famity RANUNCULACEZ.] [Genus RANUNCULUS, Linn. 
PLATE 3. 
Ranunculus Lyallii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 4: Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 9. 
Most travellers in the Southern Alps are acquainted with this magnificent plant, 
which Sir J. D. Hooker has well styled “the monarch of the genus.” The large 
deep-green peltate or saucer-shaped leaves, sometimes 12in. to 16in. in diameter, 
and the tall paniculately branched flowering-stems, often bearing 15-20 large white 
flowers from Lin. to 3 in. in diameter, are quite sufficient to arrest the attention of the 
most casual visitor. As the name indicates, it was first discovered by Dr. Lyall, 
the surgeon attached to H.M.S. “ Acheron,” which, under the command of Captain 
Stokes, was employed during the years 1847-51 in a survey of the southern shores 
of New Zealand. Lyall’s specimens were obtained in Milford Sound, and consisted 
of leaves only. These gave no clue to the affinities of the plant, for in those days 
the existence of Ranunculi with peltate leaves was not even suspected. Hence 
in the “ Flora Nove Zelandie ” it was simply alluded to as “a very remarkable 
possibly umbelliferous plant.” This suggestion, which proved to be wide of the 
mark, was no doubt due to the similarity of the leaves to those of a gigantic 
Hydrocotyle. However, in the beginning of 1861 flowering specimens were obtained 
by Sir Julius von Haast and Dr. Sinclair in the Rangitata Valley, and the 
systematic position of the plant definitely ascertained. Since then it has been 
found to be abundant along the whole chain of the Southern Alps, from the 
Spenser Mountains in the Nelson Provincial District southwards to Mount Anglem 
in Stewart Island. . 
Ranunculus Lyallii is usually found by the margins of mountain-streams, or 
in moist hollows sheltered by subalpine scrub. Occasionally it can be seen covering 
considerable areas, which in the flowering season are whitened with the abundance 
of its flowers. It is most plentiful at an altitude of about 3,000 ft., but in several 
places I have seen it at an elevation of nearly 5,500 ft., and it descends as low as 
1,500 it. in a few localities on the western side of the Alps. In size and habit of 
growth it much resembles the well-known garden plant Anemone japonica ; but it 
has much bolder foliage, and more striking flowers. It is much to be regretted 
that it is not better known in gardens, for although it has the reputation of being 
impatient of cultivation, a knowledge of the conditions favouring its growth, with 
careful management with regard to soil, situation, and supply of moisture, would 
probably bring about much more favourable results. 
In the “ Handbook” Sir J. D. Hooker has described an allied plant under the 
name of Rk. Traversii, the distinguishing characters of which are the more deeply 
crenate leaves with two incisions near the base, and the cream-coloured flowers. 
No specimens have been obtained of late years, but the examination of a careful 
drawing prepared from the type specimen and kindly forwarded to me by the 
Director of Kew leaves no doubt in my mind that it is nothing more than a trivial 
variety of R. Lyallii. Apart from this form R. Lyallii cannot be said to have any 
near allies, for although R. Matthewsii and R. Buchanani have very similar white 
flowers, they are much smaller in size, and the leaves are deeply lobed or even 
ternately divided. Outside New Zealand the only species known with peltate 
leaves are R. Cooperi, Oliv., and R. Baurii, McOwan, both natives of South Africa. 
But both of these are much smaller than R. Lyallii, and have yellow flowers with 
narrower petals. White-flowered Ranunculi are decidedly rare, except in the 
section Batrachium, which is not represented in New Zealand; and the existence 
of three such conspicuous plants as R. Lyallii, R. Matthewsii, and R. Buchanani 
constitutes a remarkable feature of the New Zealand flora. 
Puiate 3. Ranunculus Lyallii, drawn from specimens collected in the Mount Cook district, Canter- 
bury; alt. 3,000 ft. Fig. 1, base of petal, showing nectary ; 2 and 3, stamens (x 6); 4, pistil (x 6); 
5, fruit, with some of the carpels removed (x2); 6, ripe carpel (enlarged) ; 7, section of carpel 
(enlarged) ; 8, embryo (enlarged). 
