T. KiEK. — On new Floxvering Plants. 393 



with advantage and profit to the graziers and farmers. The results of 

 investigation only are given. As to detail, the course of experiment would 

 take up too much time and space, as the growth, analysis, and experiments 

 in succeeding years, of each particular grass would occupy more than the 

 whole of this paper, and the end would be that only a very few men devoted 

 to scientific methods and pursuits would care to follow the history of 

 experiment of each grass in my different experimental plots in the 

 several localities where my stations or grounds are situated ; but by 

 giving the results, and pointing out the suitableness of a particular grass 

 or fodder-plant, these results may be turned into money by those who may 

 select and grow these plants for the feeding of stock on their pastures or 

 farms, while by bringing these results before this learned Society, composed 

 of men engaged in so many different pursuits and living in so extended an 

 area, the knowledge of new and suitable plants to give increased feeding- 

 power, will through this Society be brought to the knowledge of a very 

 extended body of colonists, who will be able if they please to practically 

 and profitably apply this information. 



Art. LVIII. — Descriptions of new Floivering Plants. By T. Ejrk, F.L.S. 



Plate XIV. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 21st February, 1880.] 



EanunculacEjE. 



Ranunculus depr'essus. 



A SMALL matted species with long straight hairs on scapes and petioles ; 



stem simple, rarely giving off short, stout scions in the autumn. Leaves 



all radical, on rather long petioles, I'-l^-" long, depressed, spreading, 



broadly ovate in outline, trifoliolate, leaflets 3-toothed or lobed, or pinnati- 



sect ; segments linear, obtuse. Scapes solitary, stout, inclined, simple, 



1-flowered, much shorter than the leaves, f"-l" long, sepals 5 membranous, 



petals 5 spreading, with a small gland near the base. Carpels hidden 



amongst the leaves, 3 or 4, turgid, with a minute beak. 



Hafe.— South Island : Trelissick, Canterbury, in bogs, 2,000 feet. 

 I had the pleasure of discovering this plant in the winter of 1876, and 

 am indebted to Mr. J. D. Enys for flowering specimens. Its nearest ally is 

 R. sinclairii, Hook, f., from which it is distinguished by the turgid achenes, 

 and scapes shorter than the leaves. The leaves are broader and shorter in 

 outline, sometimes nearly entire, but when divided the segments are always 

 longer than those of its ally. The root stock is always erect and very short, 



45 



