Dieffenbachiane. N. O. Ranunculacee. 
TABS. DLXXI, DLXXII. 
RANUNCULUS NIVICOLA. Hook. 
Caulescens, pilis longis hirsutus, foliis radicalibus longissime 
petiolatis reniformi-cordatis profunde 3-5-lobis, lobis lato- 
cuneatis inciso-crenatis, caulinis perpaucis breviter petiolatis, 
summis sessilibus linearibus v. 3-multifidis laciniis angustis, 
panicula terminali, sepalis 5 lato-lanceolatis appressis, petalis 
12-15 cuneatis lineatis retusis, fructus capitulis ovato-globosis, 
stylis ovarium subzequantibus subulatis apice uncinatis. 
Has. On Mount Egmont, in the Northern Island of New 
Zealand, at the limit of perpetual snow. Dr. Dieffenbach. 
This is one of the noblest of all the species of Ranunculus 
yet known to us, 2 or 3 feet high, with leaves 4 and 5 inches 
in diameter, and flowers that a half-crown piece will scarcely 
cover, In habit, it a good deal resembles the fine R. cortuse- 
folius of Teneriffe, and R. Creticus of Crete and Northern 
Africa; but the flowers and fruit are totally different, and the 
numerous petals exhibit an affinity with several South Ame- 
rican species. The locality is no less interesting than the 
plant itself, being the limits of perpetual snow, on Mount 
Egmont, which limit Dr. Dieffenbach estimates at 7204 feet 
above the level of the sea, and the whole height of the moun- 
tain at 8839 feet. _ 
_ Fig. 1. Immature carpel :—magnified. 
