Ranunculus depressus Kirk
Type locality: "Trelissick, Canterbury, in bogs, 2,000 feet". Type: W, T. Kirk. Kirk says that "occasionally the leaves are reduced to three linear segments."
Small matted herb up to 4 cm. tall, ± clad in long hairs; stock very short, often emitting stolons and forming offset plants. Lvs all radical on slender ± decurved petioles up to 4 cm. long; sheath broad. Lamina broadly ovate in outline, 0·5-2 cm. long, us. 3-foliolate; lflts ternately to pinnately divided into linear segs (sts 3-lobed with broader lobes, or entire). Scape rather stout, up to 3 cm. long, 1-fld. Fls minute; sepals 5, membr., ovate; petals 5, oblong, gland 1 near base. Fruiting heads obscured by lvs; achenes 4-10, ovoid, somewhat turgid; style very minute.
DIST.: S. Montane to subalpine bogs and margins of swamps from lat. 43° to 45°.
Var. glabratus Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 17 : "Smaller, almost glabrous. Sheath of petiole larger. Leaves 3-lobate, segments flat. Scape shorter. Achenes not seen. Otago: Mount Cardrona,4,000 ft. Petrie!".
