Ranunculus uncinatus |
Ranunculus triternatus |
|
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hook fruit buttercup, little buttercup, woodland buttercup |
Dalles Mountain buttercup, obscure buttercup |
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Roots | never tuberous. |
cylindric, 2-3 mm thick. |
Stems | erect, never rooting nodally, hispid or glabrous, base not bulbous. |
prostrate or ascending, 5-20 cm, glabrous, each with 1-6 flowers. |
Basal leaves | 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. |
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Basal leaf blades | 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. |
|
Flowers | receptacle glabrous; sepals reflexed or sometimes spreading, 2-3.5 × 1-2 mm, pubescent; petals 5, yellow, 2-4(-6) × 1-2(-3) mm. |
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 | 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. |
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. |
2n | = 28. |
|
Ranunculus uncinatus |
Ranunculus triternatus |
|
Phenology | Flowering spring–summer (Apr–Aug). | Flowering spring (Apr–May). |
Habitat | Moist meadows or woods, often along streams | Grassland or sagebrush |
Elevation | 0-3400 m (0-11200 ft) | 900-1700 m (3000-5600 ft) |
Distribution |
AK; AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; WA; WY; AB; BC
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ID; NV; OR; WA
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Discussion | 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.) |
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. Ranunculus | Ranunculaceae > Ranunculus > subg. Ranunculus > sect. Epirotes |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | R. bongardii, R. bongardii var. tenellus, R. uncinatus var. earlei, R. uncinatus var. parviflorus | R. glaberrimus var. reconditus |
Name authority | D. Don: in G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 35. (1831) | A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 21: 370. (1886) |
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