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. alpinum L.

Plant 5–15(20) cm; flowers bisexual
Leaves generally basal, 1.5–6 cm; segments 4–10 mm, glabrous; upper surface dull green; lower surface glaucous, tip rounded
Inflorescence: raceme, scapose; pedicels recurved in fruit
Flower: sepals 1.5–2.5 mm, purplish; stamens 7–12(15)
Fruits 1–6, ± pendent (due to recurved pedicel); body 2–3.5 mm, slightly compressed laterally, side obliquely ± ovate to ± obovate, with 2–3 curved ribs
Chromosomes: 2n=14
Ecology: Meadows, often moist, gravelly soils, generally alpine
Elevation: 2900–3700 m.
Bioregional distribution: n&c High Sierra Nevada, n White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, New Mexico, arctic Eurasia
Flowering time: Jun–Aug
Horticultural information: IRR, DRN, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 18; DFCLT.