RANUNCULACEAE

BUTTERCUP FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken, except as specified

Annual, perennial herb, sometimes aquatic
Leaves generally basal and cauline, generally alternate, simple or compound; petioles at base generally flat, sometimes sheathing or stipule-like
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals generally 5, free, early deciduous or withering in fruit, generally green; petals 0–many, free; stamens generally 10–many; pistils 1–many, ovary superior, chamber 1, style 1, generally ± persistent in fruit as beak, ovules 1–many
Fruit: achene, follicle, berry, or utricle-like, 1–many-seeded
Genera in family: ± 60 genera, 1700 species: worldwide, especially n temp, tropical mtns; many ornamental (Adonis, Aquilegia, Clematis, Consolida, Delphinium, Erianthis, Helleborus ), some highly TOXIC (Aconitum, Actaea, Delphinium, Ranunculus )
Reference: [Duncan & Keener 1991 Phytologia 70:24–27]

ANEMONE

ANEMONE

Perennial from stout, simple to branched caudex, rhizome, or tuber
Stems 1–several, erect, generally simple
Leaves simple to 1-ternate, blade or leaflet toothed to dissected; basal leaves rosetted, petioled, in flower or fruit withered or persistent; cauline leaves generally 2–3, in 1–2 whorls, petiole 0 to short
Inflorescence terminal; peduncles 1–5, erect, 1-flowered, in fruit elongated
Flower radial; receptacle in fruit elongated; sepals 5–8(10), petal-like; petals 0; pistils many, styles in fruit generally persistent, generally glabrous to puberulent
Fruit: achenes, densely clustered
Species in genus: ± 100 species: temp worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: flower shaken by wind)
Some species cultivated for ornamental. Plants with long, plumose styles sometimes separated as Pulsatilla.

Native

A. deltoidea Hook.

Plant 10–25 cm; rhizome slender
Stem generally 1; hairs 0 to sparse
Leaves: basal generally 1, 1-ternate, petiole 10–15 cm, short-stiff-hairy, leaflets 3–6 cm, ovate, crenate or sharp-toothed to lobed; cauline simple, 3–8 cm, ovate, toothed to lobed, petioles ± 0
Inflorescence: flower 1
Flower: sepals generally 5, 15–25 mm, white, glabrous
Fruit: cluster ± spheric, 9–12 mm, glabrous to puberulent; styles < 1 mm
Ecology: Open to shaded sites, coniferous forest
Elevation: 200–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: n North Coast, Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: to Washington
Horticultural information: SHD, IRR, DRN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.