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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]

CLEMATIS

VIRGIN'S BOWER

Frederick B. Essig

Generally woody vine, sometimes dioecious
Leaves generally 1–2-pinnate, cauline, generally opposite; petiole generally twining; leaflets ovate to lanceolate, often irregularly 2–3-lobed, coarsely toothed
Inflorescence: panicle to 1-flowered, axillary or terminal
Flower radial; sepals generally 4, free, petal-like, generally lanceolate, white to cream (or brightly colored elsewhere); petals 0; stamens many, free; pistils generally many, simple
Fruit: many achenes, each generally with an elongate, feathery style
Species in genus: 250 species: worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: twig)
Worldwide revision badly needed but CA species distinct.

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