Ranunculus septentrionalis - (image 1 of 4)
Taxonomy
Family: Ranunculaceae
Habitat
Mesophytic woods, bottomland areas, swamps. Fens and sedge meadows.
Associates
Distribution
NY and NJ, south to FL, west MN and SD to TX.
Morphology
Herbaceous perennial. Basal and cauline leaves similar, as wide or wider than long; basal leaves larger, mostly 3-lobed, the lobes acute or acuminate. Flowers waxy-yellow; petals 5-8; sepals reflexed; style elongate, slender, nearly straight. Mature receptacle ellipsoid or clavate. Fruit a smooth, flattened, achene with raised lateral nerves bordering the marginal, sometimes with a winged keel.
Notes
Flowers late March to mid June
Wetland indicator: Facultative Wetland +
Some authors lump this species with R. hispidus Michx. The plants pictured here were photographed in southeast WI and would likely be referable to R. hispidus var. nitidus (Elliot) T. Duncan, which has wide-margined achenes and is usually stoloniferous at the time of fruiting.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G.
Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
USDA, NRCS. 2002.
The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
|
Michael Hough © 2005 |