Flora of New Zealand Series

R. geraniifolius Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1852, 9, t. 3 non Pourr. in Mém. Acad. Toulouse 3, 1788, 326.

A complicated group of forms has been included under the name R. geraniifolius in N.Z. Hooker's description is: "gracilis, caulescens, 1-11/2-pedalis, parce hirsutus v. glabratus, foliis longe petiolatis 2 unc. latis orbiculari-reniformibus ultra medium 3-5-partitis segmentis cuneatis sublobatis crenatis, caulinis linearibus, caule diviso paucifloro, pedunculis elongatis hirsutis, floribus 3/4-1 unc. diametr., sepalis 6-8 dorso pilosis, petalis 8-10 lineari-oblongis apice rotundatis basi fovea nectarifera instructis, carpellis glabris stylo recto apice uncinato terminatis. Tab.III.

"HAB. Northern Island. By rills from the snow of the Ruahine mountains, Colenso." The figure represents a common form with broad segs to both radical and cauline lvs. Type: K, 4284 N.Z. Colenso.

DIST.: N., S. Montane to subalpine grassland and herbfield from lat.38°-42° 30'.

Three groups are provisionally distinguished: (a) petioles 10-20 cm. long. Radical laminae 4-10 cm. diam., 3-5-partite to well beyond the middle, lobes broad, cuneate, again broadly lobed and crenately toothed. Cauline laminae similar, smaller, lobes broadly cuneate. Range of sp., includes the type form. (b) petioles up to 15 cm. long. Radical laminae 2-4 × 3-8 cm., 3-partite nearly to base, again deeply 3-partite and cut into linear entire or toothed segs. Cauline laminae similar, smaller, much and finely dissected. Has range of sp. (c) petioles up to 5 dm. long. Radical laminae regularly to irregularly 3-5-partite to near base, 9-14 × 10-20 cm.; division again deeply 2-5-lobed, lobes entire to coarsely toothed, up to 8 × 1·5 cm. Cauline laminae similar, deeply cut, segs up to 2 cm. long. DIST.: S. Mounts Riley, Stokes, Arthur, Kendall, Zetland.

Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 13) described his R. verticillatus from "a very imperfect specimen of this plant" from near L. Ohau. "Leaves all radical on slender petioles 3 in. long, broadly reniform, 3-lobate, margins lobed or crenate, glabrous. Scape simple with one or two whorls of linear bracts on the upper portion. Flowers solitary. Sepals broadly ovate. Petals linear-oblong, 3/4 in. long. Achenes not seen. Scape and bracts pubescent above". Its status remains uncertain.