Ranunculus papulentus

Large River Buttercup
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species: R. papulentus
Binomial name
Ranunculus papulentus
Melville

Ranunculus papulentus (Large River Buttercup) is a buttercup that is endemic to south-eastern Australia.

Description

The Large River Buttercup is an upright perennial herb 10-25 cm in height with underground stolons. The flowering stems are slender and erect, 3-30 cm in height. It has 2-4 flowers with spreading, glossy yellow petals.[1]

It has leaves with lamina 2–4 cm long. The three primary segments each have 3–5 lobes or teeth, or are rarely entire. The petiole is usually 4–25 cm long. The petals are 7–12 mm long and 2–4 mm wide. The nectary lobes are elliptical or semicircular. It usually has 12–36 achenes, 1.7–3.6 mm long, with the lateral faces irregularly wrinkled or pitted, or rarely smooth, and when mature often pale and thickened along the dorsal ridge.[2]

Distribution and habitat

It has been recorded from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. It occurs in freshwater wetland environments, on mud or in pools.[1]

Biology and ecology

Flowering may occur from spring to autumn.[2] The plant has a rhizomatous habit which aids its spread.[1]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Threatened Species Profile
  2. 1 2 New South Wales Flora Online

Sources


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, January 27, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.