Ranunculus uncinatus
Ranunculus acriformis
hook fruit buttercup, little buttercup, woodland buttercup
sharpleaf buttercup
never tuberous.
never tuberous, sometimes thick and ± fleshy proximally.
erect, never rooting nodally, hispid or glabrous, base not bulbous.
erect, not rooting nodally, hirsute or strigose, base not bulbous.
cordate to reniform in outline, 3-parted or sometimes 3-foliolate, 1.8-5.6 × 2.8-8.3 cm, segments again lobed, ultimate segments elliptic to lanceolate, margins toothed or crenate-toothed, apex acute to rounded-obtuse.
broadly ovate to cordate or sometimes reniform in outline, deeply 3-divided or occasionally 3-foliolate, 2.2-6 × 2.5-7.7(-10) cm, divisions 1-2x deeply parted or -dissected, ultimate segments linear to broadly linear, margins entire (occasionally a lobe reduced to large tooth), apex acute or rounded-acute.
receptacle glabrous;
sepals reflexed or sometimes spreading, 2-3.5 × 1-2 mm, pubescent;
petals 5, yellow, 2-4(-6) × 1-2(-3) mm.
receptacle glabrous;
sepals spreading or variously reflexed, 4-6 × 2-4 mm, appressed-hirsute;
petals 5(-10), yellow, 7-13 × 4-10 mm.
globose or hemispheric, 4-7 × 4-7 mm;
achenes 2-2.8 × 1.6-2 mm, glabrous or sparsely hispid, margin forming narrow rib 0.1-0.2 mm wide;
beak persistent, lanceolate, curved, hooked, 1.2-2.5 mm.
hemispheric or globose, 5-8 × 6-8(-10) mm;
achenes 2.2-3.4 × 2-3 mm, glabrous, margin forming narrow rib 0.1-0.2 mm wide;
beak persistent, lanceolate, strongly curved, 0.4-1.6 mm.
= 28.
Ranunculus uncinatus
Ranunculus acriformis
Plants with hispid stems and achenes are often separated as Ranunculus uncinatus var. parviflorus; these two characters are poorly correlated, however, and sometimes vary between plants in a single collection. Ranunculus uncinatus was reported from northeastern Alberta and adjacent Northwest Territories by H. J. Scoggan (1978-1979, part 3). The specimens have hairy receptacles and straight, broad achene beaks; they apparently represent small individuals of R. macounii.
Some Native Americans used Ranunculus uncinatus as an antrirheumatic, a diaphoretic, a disinfectant, and an orthopedic aid, as well as in herbal steam baths intended to soothe sore muscles and rheumatism (D. E. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 3
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Sepals spreading, or reflexed from base, pubescence of appressed hairs; Wyoming, Colorado. | var. acriformis |
1. Sepals reflexed 1–3 mm above base, pubescence of spreading hairs; Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah. | → 2 |
2. Beak of achene 1.2–1.6mm; receptacle hemispheric to spheric; Utah to Idaho and Montana. | var. montanensis |
2. Beak of achene 0.4–1mm; receptacle obpyriform to cylindric; Utah. | var. aestivalis |
BC
CA
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
SW CO Wildflowers
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
