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]

CALTHA

MARSH MARIGOLD

Perennial from short caudex, generally fleshy, glabrous
Stems 1–few
Leaves simple, mostly basal, generally cordate to reniform, entire to sharp-toothed; basal petioles > blades
Inflorescence: cyme or flower solitary, terminal or axillary; bracts leaf-like
Flower radial; sepals 5–12, petal-like, white to yellow; petals 0; pistils 5–many
Fruit: follicles, sessile to short-stalked, generally beaked
Seed generally smooth, brown to black
Species in genus: ± 10 species: temp North America, Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name, from bowl-shaped flower)

Native

C. leptosepala DC. var. biflora (DC.) G. Lawson

Plant 8–36 cm
Stem generally < 5 cm, simple
Leaves: petioles 3–25 cm, blades 2–9 cm wide, subentire to crenate
Inflorescence: peduncle 4–32 cm, generally > leaves, 1(2)-flowered
Flower: sepals 5–11, 8–20 mm, oblong to elliptic
Fruit: follicles 3–8, 7–18 mm; beak generally straight, erect
Ecology: Marshes, pond margins, streambanks, coniferous forest
Elevation: 900–3300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Alaska
Synonyms: C. howellii (Huth) Greene
Horticultural information: WET: 4, 5, 17 &SHD: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 15, 16.