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Volume I (1961) - Flora of New Zealand Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons
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Ranunculus L.

RANUNCULUS L., 1753

Fls solitary to paniculately arrayed, perfect, regular, hypog. Sepals 3-5, deciduous or caducous; petals (0)-5-25 or more, yellow or white, with 1 or more nectary glands; stamens us. ∞; carpels in heads, us. ∞, with basal ovule; fr. of achenes. Annual to perennial herbs; lvs us. exstipulate, mostly radical, often variously lobed or dissected. Over 300 spp., chiefly of temperate regions. Of the N.Z. spp. forms of R. hirtus, R. lappaceus and R. rivularis occur in Australia and Tasmania; of R. acaulis in Tasmania and Chile. R. biternatus has a wide range in austral regions.

Key

1
Lvs linear-spathulate, entire, fls tetramerous
43. limosella
Lvs and fls not as above
2
2
Petals white
3
Petals yellow or absent
4
3
Lvs peltate, crenately toothed
1. lyallii
Lvs not peltate, deeply divided
2. buchananii
4
Lvs not or only shallowly lobed; sinus not beyond middle of lamina
5
Lvs deeply lobed to 3-5-foliolate or dissected
39
5
Most or all laminae of radical lvs 10-20 cm. long or in diam
6
Most or all laminae of radical lvs not > 5 cm. long
10
6
Laminae of oblong to ovate order
7
Laminae of reniform to suborbicular order
8
7
Fls 2.5-5 cm. diam.; nectary glands 2-3
6. godleyanus
Fls 1-2.5 cm. diam.; nectary gland 1
5. monroi
8
Achenes densely hairy
3. insignis
Achenes sparsely hairy to glab.
9
9
Lamina not or only very shallowly lobed
5. monroi
Lamina more distinctly lobed
4. lobulatus
10
Stems creeping and rooting at nodes, or stocks distinctly creeping and branched
11
Stems short, not creeping; stock not creeping (stolons may be present)
13
11
Stock long, creeping, branched; style stout
37. pachyrrhizus
Stock short, not creeping; plant creeping by stolons; style slender
12
12
Stolons slender; petioles slender, decurved
39. depressus
Stolons stout; petioles stout, not decurved
36. cheesemanii
13
Teeth and/or lobes of laminae crenate
14
Teeth and/or lobes of laminae not crenate
32
14
Fls well over 2 cm. diam
15
Fls not or hardly attaining 2 cm. diam
19
15
Achenes villous; lvs villous, at least below
3. insignis
Achenes sparsely hairy to glab.; lvs sparingly hairy to glab.
16
16
Scape stout, thickened in upper part; sepals and petals ± equal
7. pinguis
Scape rather slender, not thickened in upper part; sepals distinctly < petals
17
17
Lvs of oblong order
6. godleyanus
Lvs of reniform, suborbicular, or ovate order
18
18
Lamina not or only very shallowly lobed
5. monroi
Lamina more deeply and distinctly lobed
4. lobulatus
19
Lamina glab.
20
Lamina sparsely to densely hairy
22
20
Scape thickened in upper part; petioles long
7. pinguis
Scape not so thickened; petioles short
21
21
Lvs orbicular-reniform, 3-lobed to near middle
15. berggrenii
Lvs 3-foliolate; terminal lflt long-stalked
16. novae-zelandiae
22
Plant depressed, not >4 cm. tall
23
Plant not depressed, us. well over 4 cm. tall
24
23
Sepals ovate; stolons us. Present
39. depressus
Sepals linear to oblong, acute; stolons absent
23. recens
24
Petioles, all or most, well over 8 cm. long
25
Petioles not or hardly attaining 8 cm. long
28
25
Plant with branched leafy stems; achenes not or hardly compressed
26
Plant with simple scapes; achenes compressed
27
26
Petals hardly longer than sepals; sepals oblong; achenes with hairs on surface
32. foliosus
Petals twice as long as sepals; sepals ovate; achenes ± ciliate near style
33. porrectus
27
Lamina round-reniform in outline
35. aucklandicus
Lamina ovate to deltoid-cordate in outline
34. subscaposus
28
Lamina with ∞ close-set crenate teeth
5. monroi
Lamina with few distant teeth or lobes
29
29
Fls apetalous, rarely 1-2 petals present
28. royi
Fls bearing 5 or more petals
30
30
Lamina splashed with brown flecks
30. maculatus
Lamina not so marked
31
31
Sepals pilose; petals obovate-oblong; style recurved
27. lappaceus
Sepals glab.; petals narrow-obcuneate; style straight
29. carsei
32
Plant depressed, not > 4 cm. tall
33
Plant not depressed, us. well over 4 cm. tall
34
33
Sepals ovate; stolons us. Present
39. depressus
Sepals linear to oblong, acute; stolons absent
23. recens
34
Petals absent, or rarely 1 to 2 developed
28. royi
Petals 5 or more
35
35
Petioles seldom > 5 cm. in length
36
Petioles mostly well over 8 cm. long
37
36
Sepals glab.; petals narrow obcuneate; style straight
29. carsei
Sepals pilose; petals obovate-oblong; style curved
27. lappaceus
37
Achenes with some long hairs; lamina hairs spreading or only slightly appressed
35. aucklandicus
Achenes glab.; lamina hairs closely appressed
38
38
Plant with branched stems; nectary gland near petal base; achenes rather turgid
32. foliosus
Plant us. with unbranched stems; nectary gland placed higher on petal; achenes compressed
34. subscaposus
39
Lvs glaucous
40
Lvs not glaucous
44
40
Lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-foliolate; lflts 3-lobed, segs crenate
16. novae-zelandiae
Lamina not having the above characters in common
41
41
Lf-sheath hairy; lamina 5-10 cm. long; palmately divided into 5-7 deeply cut segs
11. haastii
Lf-sheath glab.; lamina not as above
42
42
Lamina 3-8 cm. long, reniform in outline, biternately multifid; ultimate segs narrow-linear; petioles 1-4 cm. long
13. crithmifolius
Lamina and petioles not as above
43
43
Lamina 2-5 cm. diam., suborbicular or broader than long, 3-lobed to about middle, truncate to cordate at base
14. paucifolius
Lamina 1-4 cm. diam., about suborbicular, 3-lobed to base
12. chordorhizos
44
Plant creeping and rooting at nodes, or with creeping rhizomes
45
Plant tufted (occ. stolons may be developed)
53
45
Creeping stems or stolons stout, prostrate
36. cheesemanii
Creeping stems (or stolons if present) slender
46
46
Plant with at least some hairs
47
Plant completely glab
49
47
Rootstock stout, creeping, branching; lamina cuneate or obovate-cuneate
37. pachyrrhizus
Rootstock short, not creeping; stems creeping and rooting; lamina not as above
48
48
Petiole 2.5-7·5 cm. long; lflts with long petioles
38. ternatifolius
Petiole 1-4 cm. long; lflts sessile or subsessile
39. depressus
49
Plant creeping by underground stems or rhizomes
50
Plant creeping by overground stems or stolons
51
50
Petals spathulate; lflts sessile or subsessile
25. acaulis
Petals linear-oblong; lflts long-stalked
38. ternatifolius
51
Lamina 3-lobed to 3-partite; style short
42. biternatus
Lamina 3-7-partite to base; style rather long
52
52
Lamina 2-7 cm. long; petioles 12-24 cm. long
40. macropus
Lamina 0·5-4 cm. long; petioles 2-16 cm. long
41. rivularis
53
Lamina > 5 cm. long (up to 20 cm.)
54
Lamina not > 5 cm. long
64
54
Achenes compressed and margined
55
Achenes not compressed, or if slightly so then not margined (may be keeled)
57
55
Plant stout, erect or nearly so; lvs 3-partite
34. subscaposus
Plant slender, spreading; lvs 3-foliolate
56
56
Petioles not > 10 cm. long; achenes compressed; style short
21. hirtus
Petioles mostly well over 10 cm. long; achenes much compressed; styles long
22. urvilleanus
57
Lvs and/or petioles densely hairy
58
Lvs and/or petioles glab. or nearly so
60
58
Lamina hairs closely appressed
34. subscaposus
Lamina hairs spreading or hardly appressed
59
59
Achenes somewhat compressed; sepals hairy
35. aucklandicus
Achenes turgid; sepals glab. or nearly so
10. clivalis
60
Radical lvs 3-5-foliolate or still more compound
61
Radical lvs ± deeply 3-lobed, but not 3-foliolate
62
61
Lamina 3-foliolate; terminal lflt stalked, lateral sessile or subsessile (some laminae may be entire or shallowly lobed)
24. kirkii
Lamina 3-5-foliolate; all lflts stalked, or lamina still further divided into stalked lflts
17. enysii
62
Cauline lvs absent or bract-like
7. pinguis
Cauline lvs ± dissected, not reduced to bracts
63
63
Fls ∞, 2-4 cm. diam.; petals emarginate
9. nivicolus
Fls rather few, 1-2.5 cm. diam.; petals rounded at apex
10. clivalis
64
Achenes compressed and margined
65
Achenes turgid, or if ± compressed then not margined (may be keeled)
71
65
Plant depressed, not > 5 cm. tall
23. recens
Plant not depressed, well over 5 cm. tall
66
66
Lvs distinctly 3-foliolate or still more compound
67
Lvs ± 3-lobed or -partite, but not compound
69
67
Plant glab.; cauline lvs absent
26. petriei
Plant us. pilose; cauline lvs present
68
68
Petioles not > 10 cm. long; achenes compressed; style short
21. hirtus
Petioles mostly well over 10 cm. long; achenes much compressed; style long
22. urvilleanus
69
Plant stout, known only from subantarctic islands
34. subscaposus
Plant slender, known only from S.
70
70
Petals twice length of ovate sepals; achenes ± ciliate near style
33. porrectus
Petals hardly longer than oblong sepals; achenes not ciliate
32. foliosus
71
Lamina glab. or nearly so
72
Lamina distinctly but sts sparsely hairy
88
72
Lamina lobed, sts nearly to base, but not compound
73
Lamina 3-foliolate to much dissected
80
73
Lamina us. well over 2 cm. diam.; petiole ± 4 cm. long (if lamina not or hardly > 2 cm. diam., then petioles ± 10 cm. long)
74
Lamina not > 2 cm. diam.; petioles not > 2.5 cm. long
7
74
Cauline lvs much dissected
10. clivalis
Cauline lvs lobed, but not dissected, or absent
75
75
Plant and petioles very slender; fls not > 8 mm. diam.
26. petriei
Plant and petioles stout; fls mostly 1-2.5 cm. diam.
76
76
Style straight, narrowly 3-winged at base
7. pinguis
Style hooked, 2-winged at base
8. grahamii
77
Lvs coriac.
78
Lvs membr.
79
78
Petioles 2.5-5 cm. long; lamina 2-5 cm. diam.
14. paucifolius
Petioles 1-2.5 cm. long; lamina 1-2 cm. diam
15. berggrenii
79
Petioles rather slender; petals narrow obcuneate; style straight
29. carsei
Petioles stout; petals broadly oblong; style hooked
36. cheesemanii
80
Nectary glands 3
20. sericophyllus
Nectary gland 1
81
81
Plant depressed; not or hardly > 4 cm. tall
82
Plant not depressed; us. well over 4 cm. tall
83
82
Rootstock stout, creeping, branched; fls 1-2 cm. diam.; style stout
37. pachyrrhizus
Rootstock slender, not creeping; fls not > 1cm. diam.; style minute
39. depressus
83
Scapes stout, fleshy, < very fleshy lvs
13. crithmifolius
Scapes slender, not fleshy or hardly so, > the membr. or somewhat fleshy lvs
84
84
Lvs 3-foliolate, lflts 3-lobed (some laminae may be simple and entire or shallowly lobed)
85
Lvs much dissected, or if 3-foliolate then lflts deeply cut
86
85
Petioles terete, 2.5-8 cm. long; scapes 7-14 cm. long
26. petriei
Petioles flattened, 1-2.5 cm. long; scapes 2-7·5 cm. long
16. novae-zelandiae
86
Lvs 3-5-foliolate or biternate
17. enysii
Lvs pinnately compound
87
87
Ultimate segs of lamina narrow-linear
19. sinclairii
Ultimate segs of lamina ± oblong, cuneately narrowed to base
18. gracilipes
88
Plant depressed, not > 4 cm. tall
89
Plant not depressed, us. well over 4 cm. tall
91
89
Fls 1-2 cm. diam.; petals distinctly > sepals
37. pachyrrhizus
Fls not over 1 cm. diam.; petals not or hardly > sepals
90
90
Sepals linear-oblong; petals linear-spathulate; achenes slightly compressed, margined
23. recens
Sepals ovate; petals oblong; achenes somewhat swollen, not margined
39. depressus
91
Laminae finely dissected
92
Laminae not finely dissected
93
92
Ultimate segs of lamina narrow-linear
19. sinclairii
Ultimate segs of lamina oblong, cuneately narrowed to base
18. gracilipes
93
Fls subsessile at anthesis; plant small; petioles not or hardly > 3 cm. long; laminae seldom > 2 cm. diam.
94
Fls distinctly stalked at anthesis; plant larger; petioles mostly > 6 cm. long; laminae us. well over 2 cm. diam.
95
94
Sepals glab.; petals narrow-obcuneate, style straight
29. carsei
Sepals pilose; petals oblong; style hooked
31. insertus
95
Plant very slender; most lvs 3-foliolate; cauline lvs spathulate, bract-like, or absent
24. kirkii
Plant rather stout; no lvs 3-foliolate; cauline lvs resembling radical
96
96
Stem us. several times branched; hairs soft, fulvous
32. foliosus
Scapes seldom branched; hairs stiff, white
35. aucklandicus
Fig. 6. RANUNCULUS. Achenes. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X1S]
Fig. 6. RANUNCULUS. Achenes. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X1S]
Fig. 7. RANUNCULUS. Achenes. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X1T]
Fig. 7. RANUNCULUS. Achenes. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X1T]
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