Ranunculus.] I. BANUNCULACEAE. 17 



AUCKLAND Islands. l,800£t. Deo. 



This species resembles B. lappaceus, var. macrophyllus, but differs widely in the obovate 

 achene and short straight style. 



30. R. Cheesemanii, n. s. Much branched. Stem and branches stout, 

 grooved, prostrate, often rooting at the nodes, sparingly strigose, especially at 

 the base of the petioles. Radical and cauline leaves similar, about l^in. long 

 including the petiole, which is broadly sheathing at the base ; blade obovate, 

 cuneate, glabrate or glabrous, 3-lobed or toothed at the apex. Peduncles 

 axillary, ^in.— liu. long. Flowers not seen. Receptacle minute, globose, papil- 

 lose. Achenes few, scarcely stipitate, turgid, glabrous ; style much recurved 

 when young, obtuse when fully mature. 



SOUTH Island: Near Fowler's Pass, &o., in places where water has stagnated. 3,000ft. 

 T. K. 



The cauline leaves are often opposite. The horizontal stems and branches, the small 

 glabrous axillary receptacle, which resembles that o£ the submerged aquatic section, and the turgid 

 scarcely-beaked achenes, render it easy to distinguish this species from all others. 



31. R. depressus, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z.I, xii. (1879) 393. Tufted, 

 and forming matted patches. Rootstock short, often giving off short stolons. 

 Leaves and scapes clothed with long straight hairs. Petioles lin.— l^in. long, 

 depressed, spreading ; blade broadly ovate in outline, 3-foliolate ; leaflets 3-lobed, 

 or toothed, or pinnatisect ; segments narrow-linear, obtuse. Scapes solitary, 

 fin.— lin. long. Sepals 5, membranous. Petals 5, scarcely exceeding the 

 sepals, with a gland near the base. Carpels few, hidden amongst the leaves, 

 slightly turgid, with a minute beak. 



SOUTH Island : Canterbury : In swamps, Broken Eiver Basin, J. D. Enys and T. K. 

 Otago : Mount Gardrona, Petrie ! 2,000ft. to 4,000ft. 



A singular plant, easily overlooked. The short stout scapes hidden amongst the leaves, the 

 small flowers and turgid carpels, distinguish it from R. Sinclairii, with which it has been confused. 



Var. glabratus. Smaller, almost glabrous. Sheath of petiole longer. Leaves 3-lobate, seg- 

 ments flat. Scape shorter. Achenes not seen. Otago : Mount Gardrona, 4,000ft. Petrie I 



32. R. crassipes, Hook, f., Fl. Antarc. ii. 224, t. 81. Glabrous, stems 

 creeping and rooting at the nodes. Leaves on petioles lin.— 4in. long, almost 

 fleshy when fresh, reniform-cordate, unequally 3-partite or -fid, the lower 

 segments lobed and deeply toothed or crenate. Peduncles 1-flowered, axillary, 

 shorter than the leaves. Flowers small. Sepals 4 or 5, ovate, membranous. 

 Petals 4 or 5, scarcely exceeding the sepals, 3-nerved, with a gland just below 

 the middle. Achenes forming a small globose head, broadly ovate, turgid, 

 faintly margined ; style short, strict. 



MAGQUAEIB Island: A. Hamilton I Also on KERGUELEN'S Land and MARION 

 Island . 



Mr. Hamilton states that the carpels become s.carlet when fully ripe, and render the plant 

 very conspicuous. 



33. R. macropuSj Hook. f. in Hook. Ic. PL t. 634. Glabrous stems, 

 creeping and rooting at the nodes, fistulose, 3in.-13in. high. Radical leaves on 

 petioles 3in.-15in. long ; blade lin.-2in. in diameter, fiabellate, 3-5-partite to 

 the base ; leaflets caneate at base, margins irregalarly cut into obtuse lobes or 



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