﻿RANUNCULUS MACROPETALUS, DC 



Ranunculace2E. Tribe Ranunculej:. 



R. macropetalus, DC, Prodr. i. 29; perennis elatus, foliis radi- 

 cahbus snborbiculatis pracipue apicem versus crenato- v. deltoideo- 

 dentatis flabellatim nervosis lamina glabra margine pi 

 petiolo late alato apice in appendicem liguliformem obtusnm pro- 

 duct, caule folioso glabro v. laxe piloso, foliis (phyllodiis) canlmia 

 snperioribus amplexicaulibus ovatia v. obovatis apicem versus in- 

 asqnaliter lobatis crenato-dentatisve interdum rotandal 

 glabratis v. parce villosis areolatim depresso-venosis, pedunculis 

 bracteatis, floribus amplis late globoso-campanulatis, sepalis late ellip- 

 ticis appresse villosis interdum deinde glabratis, petalis late obovato- 

 vel cuneato-rotundatis ealyce longioribus supra unguem foveola trans- 

 versa semilunari munitis, carpellis numerosissimis pallidis snbkevibus 

 stylo gracili ovario subaaquilongo rostratis. 



), Mr. 



Herba 2-4-pedalis. Folia radicalia (v. inferiora caulina ?) lamina 

 6-8 poll, longa atque lata ; petiolus elongatus £-l|-ped. longus 

 apicem versus 2-2^ poll, latus. Flares 2-3^ poll. lati. Petala U 2 

 poll, longa. 



We are indebted to tbe liberality of Messrs. Veitch for a fine set of 

 specimens of this noble Ranunculus, which has not yet, to my know- 

 ledge been successfully introduced into cultivation. 



I identify the species simply from the description given by De 

 Candolleand Weddell ('Chloris Andina,' ii. 305) ; Jl. /.'"/w^-./,7. W«-dd. 

 (I. c), I think probably may be the same. It is the species which 

 M. Raimondi says is administered by the Indians to their children 

 ' pour les faire parler plus promptement.' I am uncertain as to the 

 colour of the flower : ' petalis rubentibus (?) ' is stated by Weddell in 

 i the word reddish occurs on Mr. 

 Pearce's label, but it is not clear that it applies to the flowers.— D. 

 Oliver. 



Fig. 1. Ease of petal, with nectary. 2. Stamen. 3. Carpel. Enlarge!. 



