PLATE 4.—RANUNCULUS NIVICOLA. 
Famity RANUNCULACE. | [Genus RANUNCULUS, Linn. 
Ranunculus nivicola, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 571,572; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 12. 
This graceful buttercup is nowhere more plentiful than on Mount Egmont, 
where it was discovered, in the summer of 1839, by Dr. Ernst Dieffenbach, the 
naturalist to the New Zealand Company, who was the first European to ascend 
the mountain. About the same time it was collected by Mr. Bidwill on Tongariro 
and Ruapehu, where, however, it does not attain the same luxuriance as on Egmont. 
Its abundance on the last-mentioned mountain greatly impressed me on my first 
ascent, made nearly thirty years ago. After passing through the forest region 
which girds the lower slopes of the mountain up to an elevation of nearly 4,000 ft., a 
subalpine scrub is reached, chiefly composed of Olearia, Senecio, Coprosma, Veronica, 
&c. In open sheltered places within this scrub R. nivicola flourishes in perfection, 
attaining a height of 3 ft., with radical leaves often more than 6 in. across, and with 
a branched flowering-stem bearing 8-15 large bright-yellow flowers 14 in. in diameter. 
Higher up, on the open mountain-side, it is smaller in size, and is usually found 
in the shelter of rocks, or on the sides of ravines. According to my own observations, 
its upward hmit is about 5,500 ft. or slightly more. Dieffenbach states that he 
collected it at an altitude of “7,000 ft., near the perpetual snow,” but this I believe 
to be altogether erroneous. Mr. Buchanan, who examined the vegetation of 
Egmont in 1867, gives 5,000 ft. as its limit. In 1907 I noticed it up to 5,800 ft. 
on the western side of Tongariro, and many years previously Mr. Kerry Nicholls 
reported to me that it occurred at an equivalent height on Ruapehu. Both on 
Egmont and Ruapehu all vegetation ceases before an elevation of 7,000 ft. is 
reached. 
The chief home of R. nivicola is in the two localities mentioned above. TI have, 
- however, seen specimens gathered by Mr. Townson on Mount Holdsworth, one of 
the chief peaks of the Tararua Range, and I can entertain little doubt that it also 
exists on the Kaimanawa and Ruahine Mountains. Some flowerless specimens 
collected by Mr. J. H. Macmahon on Mount Stokes, Marlborough, apparently belong 
to the same species, but an element of doubt will remain until the flowers have 
been obtained. 
The nearest ally of R. nivicola is undoubtedly R. geraniifolius. But that 
species differs in its smaller size and much more slender habit, fewer leaves which 
are often much divided, in the fewer and smaller flowers, and in the petals not being 
conspicuously notched at the apex. I am not acquainted with any extra-New- 
Zealand species which can be said to be closely allied. R. anemoneus, of the 
Australian Alps, with which Bentham compared it, differs in the more finely cut 
radical leaves, in the broader sessile cauline leaves, and in the white flowers. 
Probably its nearest relatives will be found in some of the South American species. 
Prats 4. Ranunculus nivicola, from specimens gathered on Mount Egmont, at an altitude of 
4,000 ft. Fig. 1, base of petal, showing nectary (x 4); 2, stamen (x 4); 3, carpels from flower (x 4) ; 
4, ripe carpel (enlarged). 
