Ranunculacee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 11 
when growing in wet places, with creeping surculose stems. Petioles 2-6 inches long. Leaves 1 inch broad, 
divided to the base into narrow cut lobes. Flowers $—1 inch across, on erect peduncles, which are generally solitary 
on the short erect stems. Petals five to seven, bright yellow, very narrow, blunt. Carpels turgid, with a rather 
long straight or curved style. This species is closely allied to R. rivularis. —PLAtE IV. Fig. 1, flower; 2, petal; 
3, stamen; 4, pistil; 5, ripe carpel :—all magnified. 
9. Ranunculus rivularis, Banks et Sol.; parvulus, glaberrimus, repens v. subnatans, foliis longe petio- 
latis 3-partitis segmentis cuneatis 3-fidis 3-lobisve incisis, pedunculis oppositifoliis 1-floris elongatis v. 
abbreviatis, floribus parvis 2-3 lin. latis, sepalis membranaceis, petalis linearibus foveola nectarifera in- 
structis, carpellis plurimis immarginatis stylo recto terminatis. DO. Prodr. v. 1. p. 34. A. Cunn. Prodr. 
Raoul, Choix de Plantes. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands, as far south as Banks’ Peninsula; abundant in marshy places 
and in rivers. 
A small, slender, perfectly smooth species, often floating on the surface of rivers, etc. Stems 6—8 inches long, 
flexuose, rooting at the joints, where leaves and short stems are given off. .Petioles very slender, 2-4 inches long. 
Leaves 4—6 lines broad, almost orbicular in outline, cut into narrow cuneiform deeply trifid lobes. Stems weak, 
usually as long as the petioles. Peduncles opposite the leaves, solitary, erect, 1 inch long. Flowers small, 2-3 
lines broad, pale yellow. Carpels numerous, turgid, with a short nearly straight style. 
10. Ranunculus acaulis, Banks et Sol.; pusillus, glaberrimus, sarmentosus, foliis longe petiolatis cor- 
datis 3-sectis, foliolis subpetiolatis late ovatis obtusis integris v. lobatis, scapis solitariis foliis subeeguilongis, 
sepalis 3-5 ovatis obtusis, petalis 6-8 spathulatis obtusis medio nectariferis, carpellis paucis turgidis stylo 
recto subulato terminatis. DC. Prodr. v.1. p. 84. A. Cunn. Prodr. Fl. Antarct. v. 1. p. 4. t. 9. 
Haz. Abundant in moist places, Banks and Solander, etc. 
The smallest New Zealand species in stature; of a thick texture. Stems creeping, as in the former species. 
Leaves cut into three broad, blunt, entire or lobed divisions. Flowers on solitary scapes, which are usually shorter 
than the leaves. Petals five to eight, spathulate, yellow, 1 line long, nectary forming a pit about the middle. 
Carpels few, turgid, with a nearly straight sharp style. This plant is found as far south as Lord Auckland’s Islands. 
*** Carpels rough or warted. 
11. Ranunculus sessiliflorus, Br.; gracillimus, pubescens, caulibus prostratis filiformibus, foliis petiolatis 
orbicularibus v. reniformibus integris dentatis v. 3-5-partitis lobis obtusis, floribus minimis in axillis folio- 
rum superiorum sessilibus, sepalis petalisque 5 equilongis, carpellis compressis muricatis stylo brevissimo 
uncinato terminatis. DC. Prodr. v. 1. p. 42. 
Haz. Northern Island, Colenso. 
lam not aware whence Mr. Colenso procured this curious little plant: it is by far the most slender New 
Zealand species of the genus. Stems, of which generally but few are given off from the root, slender, thread-like, 
Prostrate. Leaves chiefly radical, always on petioles 1—4 inches long, the blade 4 inch broad, more or less hairy, 
entire or three-lobed. — Sfem-leaves on very short stalks, small. Flowers very minute, yellow, solitary at the axils 
of the leaves, the upper one appearing terminal, the branch being hardly produced beyond it. Sepals and petals 
of equal length. Carpels flattened, rough on the sides with small tubercles. This plant is also a native of various 
parts of Australia. 
Oss. The Ranunculus pinguis and subscaposus, of Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell’s Island, may both be 
expected to be found on the lofty mountains of the Middle Island. A twelfth New Zealand species has been discovered 
by Mr. Colenso on the Ruahine Mountains, but the specimens are too imperfect for description. The erect stems 
have long hairs; leaves radical, on long petioles, much divided into branching linear segments. 
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