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]

THALICTRUM

MEADOW-RUE

Perennial from caudex or rhizomes, dioecious or flowers bisexual, generally glabrous
Stems 1–few, generally erect; branches 0 or few
Leaves generally 1–4-ternate, basal or basal and cauline, generally reduced upwards, petioled; segments wedge-shaped, fan-shaped, or ± round; upper surface generally green; lower surface pale green
Inflorescence: raceme or panicle, axillary or terminal, generally erect; pedicels generally erect in fruit; bracts simple to 1-ternate
Flower radial; sepals 4–5, generally green, petal-like or not, often early deciduous; petals 0; stamens 8–many, generally > sepals, anthers generally narrowly oblong, tip generally abruptly pointed, filaments generally thread-like; pistils 2–20
Fruit: achenes, compressed laterally to not, ribbed or veined, beaked
Species in genus: ± 80 species: temp North America, Eurasia, Africa; some ornamental, medicinal
Etymology: (Greek: name given by Dioscorides, Greek physician-botanist)
Reference: [Boivin 1944 Rhodora 46:337–377,391–445,453–487]

Native

T. occidentale A. Gray

Plant 40–100 cm, dioecious
Leaves basal and cauline, 6–40 cm; segments 11–35 mm, glabrous to finely glandular-puberulent, tip obtuse to rounded
Inflorescence: panicle, leafy to bracted above
Flower: sepals 2–5 mm, greenish white to purplish; stamens 15–30
Fruits (3)6–14, mostly reflexed; body 4–6 mm, slightly compressed laterally, side obliquely and narrowly ovate to narrowly fusiform, with generally 3, ± straight ribs
Ecology: Moist, shaded places, coniferous forest
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: n North Coast, nw Klamath Ranges
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Wyoming
Synonyms: var. palousense H. St. John
Horticultural information: TRY.