TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

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. sparsiflorum Fisch. & C.A. Mey.

Plant 60–180 cm; flowers bisexual
Leaves basal (few) and cauline, 4–30 cm; segments 12–20 mm, finely glandular-puberulent, tip obtuse to rounded
Inflorescence: panicle, generally leafy
Flower: sepals generally 5, 2.5–4 mm, greenish white; stamens 10–20, anthers ovate to oblong, tip obtuse, filaments flat
Fruits 6–22, ± spreading; body 4–6 mm, strongly compressed laterally, side generally semi-circular to crescent-shaped, veined or weakly ribbed; beak 1–1.5 mm, straight
Chromosomes: 2n=42
Ecology: Uncommon. Moist places, streambanks, coniferous forest
Elevation: 1400–3300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Cascade Range, c&n Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, n East of Sierra Nevada (Sweetwater, White mtns)
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Colorado, Asia
Flowering time: Jul–Aug
Horticultural information: TRY.