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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Ranunculaceae

RANUNCULACEAE

Herbs, rarely woody climbers, usually perennial, sometimes annual. Lvs alternate, rarely opposite, exstipulate, rarely stipulate, usually ternate, ternatifid, or 1-2-pinnate. Infl. a raceme, lax leafy cyme, panicle, or fls solitary. Fls hypogynous, usually ⚥, usually actinomorphic. Perianth of 1-2 whorls, differentiated into sepals and petals or all petaloid; segments free, clawed or not, sometimes 1 or more spurred or hooded. Stamens usually numerous, in spiral whorls. Carpels usually free, usually numerous, in spiral whorls. Fr. an achene or follicle, rarely a berry. Seeds smooth or sculptured; embryo small, straight; endosperm copious.

SYNOPSIS

  • A. Subfam. HELLEBOROIDEAE. 
  • B. Subfam. RANUNCULOIDEAE. 
    • Fr. an indehiscent achene with 1-seed.
    • 3. Trib. ANEMONEAE. 
      • Lvs alternate; fls subtended by an involucre or whorl of lvs; perianth petaloid:
      • Anemone
    • 4. Trib. CLEMATIDEAE. 
      • Lvs opposite; involucre 0; perianth in 1 whorl, usually petaloid:
      • Clematis
    • 5. Trib. RANUNCULEAE. 

Key

1
Fls zygomorphic; only the upper perianth segment hooded or spurred
2
Fls actinomorphic; either 5 perianth segments spurred or all not spurred
3
2
Upper perianth segment hooded, no segments spurred; follicles usually 3
ACONITUMζ
Upper perianth segment spurred, no segments hooded; follicle solitary
CONSOLIDA
3
Either all 5 sepals or all 5 petals spurred
4
No perianth segments spurred
5
4
Minute annual herbs; lvs all basal, linear-spathulate, entire; fr. an achene; receptacle elongating at fruiting
MYOSURUS†ζ
Perennial herbs 30-80 cm tall; lvs basal and cauline, ternately divided; fr. a follicle; receptacle not elongating at fruiting
AQUILEGIA
5
Carpels with 2-many ovules; fr. a follicle
6
Carpels with 1 functional ovule; fr. an achene
8
6
Subfloral lvs 2-3-pinnatisect with linear-filiform segments; fls blue; follicles united below, inflated
NIGELLA
Subfloral lvs 1-palmatifid or crenate with oblong or rounded segments; fls yellow or cream; follicles free, not inflated
7
7
Lvs deeply palmatifid; fls subtended by a whorl of 3 subfloral lvs; follicles stalked on receptacle
ERANTHISζ
Lvs entire, serrate, or crenate; fls not subtended by a whorl of subfloral lvs; follicles sessile on receptacle
PSYCHROPHILA†ζ
8
Perianth segments all similar, usually petaloid, usually reddish, pink or white, sometimes yellow
9
Perianth segments in 2 distinct whorls; sepals green; petals usually yellow, sometimes white
11
9
Achene style feathery, > 5× achene body; usually woody climbers (rarely low subshrubs) with opposite lvs
CLEMATIS
Achene style not feathery, 1/2-2× achene body; herbs with whorled or alternate cauline lvs
10
10
Stamens > perianth; fls in panicles
THALICTRUMζ
Stamens < perianth; fls solitary or 3-8 in umbels
ANEMONE
11
Achenes with a bulbous empty swelling on either side of the upper margin
CERATOCEPHALUS†ζ
Achenes without bulbous empty swellings
RANUNCULUS

50 genera, 1900 spp., cosmopolitan, but mostly N. temperate.

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