452 RANUNCULACEAE. [ Ranunculus. 
1-6in. long; blade }-1jin. diam., ovate semicircular or reniform in 
outline, usually 3-7-partite to the base ; segments varying from cuneate to 
narrow-linear, more or less deeply cut at the apex, sometimes to the middle, 
occasionally ternatisect, rarely entire. Peduncles usually longer than the 
leaves. Flowers yellow, }-3in. diam. Sepals 5, spreading. Petals 5-10, 
linear-oblong, usually longer than the sepals ; gland some distance : bove 
the base. Achenes turgid, glabrous, sometimes rugose from the shrivel- 
ling of the epicarp; style rather long, subulate, straight or recurved. 
A. Ounn. Precur. (1838) n. 630; Raoul Choix (1846) 47; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. 
Zel. i (1853) 11; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 8; T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 
18; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 25. 
Var. major Benth. Fl. Austral. i (1863) 14.—Suberect, 3-12in. high. Leaves 
tufted; segments often very narrow and much cut.—R. incisus Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 
i (1853) 10, t. 4. BR. amphitricha Colenso in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii (1885) 237. 
Var. subfiuitans Benth. l.c.—Creeping or partially floating. Leaves smaller, less 
divided. Flowers and achenes smaller.—R. inundatus R.-Br. ex DC, Syst. i (1818) 269 ; 
Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i (1860) 8. 
Var. ineonspieuus Benth. l.c. —Smailer, more slender, suberect. Leaf-segments 
3-fid. Flowers smaller.—R. inconspicuus Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i (1860) 8, t. 2B. 
che d aaron ace ti Coe fe: 4 . Lae hs P 1G ABs 
Norts, Soure, Stewart, AND CHatHam IsLanps: Common In“ Wet swamps, 
lakes, and rivers throughout, ascending to 3000 it. October to March. Also 
plentiful in Australia and Tasmania. 
A most abundant little plant, exceedingly variable in most of its characters, and 
particularly so in the extent to which the leaves are divided, and the width or narrow- 
ness of the ultimate segments. Stockowners consider it to be highly poisonous, and 
attribute to it many deaths occurring among cattle feeding in swamps in dry summers. 
88 R. acaulis Banks and Sol. ex DC. Syst. i (1818) 270.—Small, dark- 
ereen, fleshy, perfectly glabrous, sending out creeping stolons and often 
forming broad matted patches. Leaves all radical, on slender petioles 
1-3in. long; blade }-3in. diam., trifoliolate or deeply 3-lobed ; leaflets 
or segments sessile, obovate or oblong, obtuse, entire or 9-3-lobed. Scapes 
shorter than the leaves, naked, 1-flowered. Flowers small, $-31n. diam. 
Sepals 5, roundish-ovate, membranous. Petals 5-8, spathulate, with a 
single gland near the middle. Achenes forming a small rounded head 
lin. diam., turgid, glabrous; style short, subulate, straight or nearly 
so.—A. Ounn. Precur. (1838) n. 631; Raoul Choix (1846) 47 ; Hook. f. 
Fl. Antarct. i (1844) 4, t. 2; Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) il; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 
(1864) 8; A. Gray Bot. U.S. Expl. Exped. (1854) 7; 7. Kirk Students’ 
Fl. (1899) 18. BR. stenopetalus Hook. Ic. Plant. (1844) t. 677. -— FaA.22% 
Norrn, Sours, anp Svewart Isnanps: Sandy beaches and muddy shores, not 
uncommon. AUCKLAND Is~anps: Hooker, &c. CmatHam Istanns: Buchanan. 
Only known inland on the shores of Lakes Rotorua, Tarawera, and Taupo. Sep- 
tem ber—November. Also found in southern Chile. 
A distinct little snecies. easily recognized by its creeping and matted habit, 
trifoliolate } Stoapennsn ial i diseneeiemea 
Mr. Colen 
xxxi (189 
plant is s 
part of t! 
OU. 
glabrou: 
petioles 
more, 3 
