Ranunculaceae. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 9 
3. Ranunculus geraniifolius, Hook. fil.; gracilis, caulescens, 1-13-pedalis, parce hirsutus v. glabratus, 
foliis longe petiolatis 2 unc. latis orbiculari-reniformibus ultra medium 3—5-partitis segmentis cuneatis 
sublobatis crenatis, caulinis linearibus, caule diviso paucifloro, pedunculis elongatis hirsutis, floribus 
a-l unc. diametr., sepalis 6-8 dorso pilosis, petalis 8-10 lineari-oblongis apice rotundatis basi fovea necta- 
rifera instructis, carpellis glabris stylo recto apice uncinato terminatis. Ta». III. 
Has. Northern Island. By rills from the snow of the Ruahine mountains, Colenso. 
Whole plant slender, smaller and more graceful than R. nivicola, easily distinguished by the cut leaves, 
which are deeply divided into lobes, and are only two to three inches across ; by the few flowers, with many narrow 
petals rounded (not notched) at the top, and by the smooth nuts. The leaves much resemble those of many 
Geraniums. —PLATE III. Fig. 1, petal; 2, stamen; 3, pistil; 4, head of carpels; 5, carpel :—all but fig. 4 
magnified, 
4. Ranunculus plebeius, Br.; patentim pilosus v. glabratus, caule erecto diviso, foliis longe petiolatis 
3-sectis segmentis sessilibus v. petiolatis oblongo-cuneatis varie 3—5-lobis crenato-dentatis, caulinis con- 
formibus supremis sessilibus, pedunculis suleatis, floribus parvis (4 unc. diametr.), sepalis 5 reflexis 
patentim pilosis, petalis 5 obovato-cuneatis apice rotundatis basi fovea nectarifera instructis, carpellis late 
obovatis compressis marginatis, stylo brevi uncinato, receptaculo piloso. DC. Prodr. v. 1. p.39. R. acris et 
R. plebeius, 4. Cunn. Prodr. R. acris, A. Rich. Flora. 
Has. Northern Island. Common at the Bay of Islands and Auckland, ete., especially near inhabited 
places, Cunningham, ete. 
Very similar to the R. repens of Europe and North America, and referred to R. acris by A. Richard, and 
in part by A. Cunningham, in whose collection, however, there are no specimens so named. Tt is characterized 
by its erect, slender habit; very hairy stems and leaves, which latter are cut into narrow segments; small flowers ; 
and smooth flattened carpels, with a thick margin, and short hooked style. The same plant is found in Australia, 
where it is generally more hairy, and has larger flowers; also in the interior of South Africa, from mountainous 
districts. It is so similar to specimens of R. repens, from various parts of the world, that I doubted its proving dis- 
tinct; the small flowers are its most conspicuous character. The leaves have usually petiolate divisions, and are 
not palmate, as in R. acris. De Candolle says (Systema, vol. i. p. 186) that R. repens often wants flagella or 
scions, and is wholly erect. The receptacles are hairy in the New Zealand plant, and the peduncles furrowed. 
5. Ranunculus Arius, Banks et Sol.; patentim pilosus v. villosus, subscapigerus, caule debili erecto 
diviso, foliis radicalibus plurimis longe petiolatis trisectis, junioribus 3-lobis, foliolis sessilibus v. petiolatis 
late ovatis 3-5-dentatis lobatisve rarius 3-sectis, caulinis paucis angustioribus, pedunculis gracilibus fruc- 
tiferis suleatis patentim villosis glabratisve, floribus 1 lin. ad + unc. diametr., sepalis petalisque 5-8, re- 
ceptaculo carpellisque ut in R. plebeio. DC. Prodr. v. 1. p. 39. A. Cunn. Prodr. 
Has. Northern Island, abundant, Banks and Solander, ete. 
I have applied the name of R. hirtus to this plant with some doubt, the styles of the achenia being invariably 
hooked, not straight, as described by DC. Mr. Cunningham calls the same plant Airtus, and describes the styles as 
straight, though those of his specimens are hooked, as are the original ones of Banks and Solander in the British 
Museum. It appears to be the same as R. pimpinellifolius, Flook., of Tasmania, and may easily be known by its 
hairiness ; the numerous radical leaves, with broad segments, which are lobed, and not deeply cut as in R. plebeius ; 
and by its stems being more sparingly divided and slender, like scapes. In alpine districts it becomes a low, 
stunted, and very villous plant, like the variety vestitus of R. pimpinellifolius (Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 260), the leaves 
also being pinnately divided. 
6. Ranunculus multiscapus, Hook. fil.; parvulus, scapigerus, sericeo-pilosus v. glabratus, foliis omnibus 
C 
