Ranunculus adoneus |
Ranunculus triternatus |
|
---|---|---|
alpine buttercup |
Dalles Mountain buttercup, obscure buttercup |
|
Roots | slender, 0.8-1.4 mm thick. |
cylindric, 2-3 mm thick. |
Stems | erect from large caudices, 9-25 cm, glabrous, each with 1-3 flowers. |
prostrate or ascending, 5-20 cm, glabrous, each with 1-6 flowers. |
Basal leaves | persistent, blades circular to reniform in outline, 2-3x-dissected into linear segments, 0.9-2.5 × 1.1-2.8 cm, base obtuse, margins entire, apices of segments narrowly rounded to acute. |
persistent, blades rhombic to deltate or reniform in outline, 3-4x-dissected, 1.1-3.4 × 2-3.1 cm, segments linear, base obtuse, margins crenate, apices of segments narrowly rounded. |
Flowers | pedicels glabrous; receptacle glabrous; sepals 4-11 × 3-7 mm, abaxially sparsely pilose, hairs colorless; petals 5-10, 8-15 × 8-19 mm; nectary scale glabrous. |
pedicels glabrous; receptacle short-pubescent; sepals 4-8 × 2-5 mm, abaxially glabrous or nearly so; petals 5, 6-15 × 4-10 mm; nectary scale glabrous. |
Heads of achenes | ovoid, 6-12 × 5-9 mm; achenes 1.8-2.4 × 1-1.4 mm, glabrous or nearly so; beak subulate, straight, 1.2-1.7 mm. |
depressed-globose, 4-6 × 5-8 mm; achenes 1.8-2.2 × 1.2-1.8 mm, finely pubescent; beak subulate, straight, 0.8-1.5 mm. |
2 | n = 16. |
|
Ranunculus adoneus |
Ranunculus triternatus |
|
Phenology | Flowering spring (Apr–May). | |
Habitat | Spring-summer (May–Sep). Alpine and subalpine meadows, usually around melting snowbanks | Grassland or sagebrush |
Elevation | 2500-4000 m (8200-13100 ft) | 900-1700 m (3000-5600 ft) |
Distribution |
CO; ID; MT; NV; UT; WY
|
ID; NV; OR; WA
|
Discussion | Most collections of Ranunculus adoneus from Colorado, including the type specimen, tend to be small, with narrow leaf segments (only 0.5-1 mm wide) and large flowers. The more widespread form, with leaf segments 1-2 mm wide and more variable flowers, has been called R. adoneus var. alpinus. The leaf and flower characteristics are very poorly correlated, however, and specimens referable to var. alpinus vary greatly in stature and flower size, so the two forms scarcely merit formal recognition. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Of conservation concern. C. L. Hitchcock et al. (1955-1969, vol. 2) considered the name Ranunculus triternatus A. Gray to be an illegitemate homonym and used the illegitimate (superfluous) name R. reconditus A. Nelson & J. F. Macbride for this species. The name Ranunculus triternatus Poiret was not validly published (not accepted by Poiret) and does not invalidate R. triternatus A. Gray. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 3. | FNA vol. 3. |
Parent taxa | Ranunculaceae > Ranunculus > subg. Ranunculus > sect. Epirotes | Ranunculaceae > Ranunculus > subg. Ranunculus > sect. Epirotes |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | R. adoneus var. alpinus, R. eschscholtzii var. adoneus, R. eschscholtzii var. alpinus | R. glaberrimus var. reconditus |
Name authority | A. Gray: Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 15: 56. (1863) | A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 21: 370. (1886) |
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