TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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]

RANUNCULUS

BUTTERCUP

Annual, perennial herb, sometimes from stolons or caudices, terrestrial or aquatic; roots generally fibrous
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves basal and generally cauline, generally reduced upwards, generally glabrous; petiole base flat, stipule-like or not; basal and lower cauline petioles generally long; blades simple to dissected or compound, entire to toothed
Inflorescence: cyme, axillary or terminal, 1–few-flowered
Flower radial; sepals generally 5, generally early deciduous, generally glabrous, generally green to yellowish; petals generally 5, generally > sepals, generally white to yellow, shiny; nectar gland near petal base, pocket-like or with flap-like scale; anthers yellow; pistils generally many
Fruit: achene, generally compressed, beaked, generally glabrous; walls thick
Species in genus: ± 250 species: temp worldwide, tropical mtns; some ornamental
Etymology: (Latin: (Pliny) little frog, from generally wet habitats)

Native

R. cymbalaria Pursh var. saximontanus Fernald

Perennial 3–20(30) cm, often scapose, generally from stolons
Stem generally erect, simple; hairs 0–sparse
Leaves: petioles 1.5–8 cm, blades 0.5–2.5 cm, ovate to reniform, generally crenate
Flower: receptacle glabrous to puberulent; sepals 2–5 mm; petals 5–8, 4–8 mm, 2–3 mm wide
Fruits many; cluster cylindric; body 1–2 mm, sides ± 1 mm wide, striate to ridged, glabrous, back rounded; beak 0.5–1 mm, ± straight
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Meadows, streambanks, marshes, pond margins
Elevation: 200–3200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except North Coast), Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, e South Coast, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province, Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: to w Canada, South Dakota, Mexico, also S.America
Flowering time: Jun–Aug
Other vars. in Rocky Mtns, Asia
Horticultural information: WET: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 &SUN: 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17, 24.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for RANUNCULUS%20cymbalaria%20var.%20saximontanus being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Ranunculus cymbalaria var. saximontanus
Retrieve dichotomous key for Ranunculus
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California