Ranunculus adoneus

A. Gray

Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 15: 56. 1863.

Endemic
Synonyms: Ranunculus adoneus var. alpinus (S. Watson) L. D. Benson Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. adoneus (A. Gray) C. L. Hitchcock Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. alpinus (S. Watson) C. L. Hitchcock
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems erect from large caudices, 9-25 cm, glabrous, each with 1-3 flowers. Roots slender, 0.8-1.4 mm thick. Basal leaves persistent, blades circular to reniform in outline, 2-3×-dissected into linear segments, 0.9-2.5 × 1.1-2.8 cm, base obtuse, margins entire, apices of segments narrowly rounded to acute. Flowers: pedicels glabrous; receptacle glabrous; sepals 4-11 × 3-7 mm, abaxially sparsely pilose, hairs colorless; petals 5-10, 8-15 × 8-19 mm; nectary scale glabrous. Heads of achenes ovoid, 6-12 × 5-9 mm; achenes 1.8-2.4 × 1-1.4 mm, glabrous or nearly so; beak subulate, straight, 1.2-1.7 mm. 2 n = 16.


Habitat: Spring-summer (May–Sep). Alpine and subalpine meadows, usually around melting snowbanks
Elevation: 2500-4000 m

Distribution

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Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Most collections of Ranunculus adoneus from Colorado, including the type specimen, tend to be small, with narrow leaf segments (only 0.5-1 mm wide) and large flowers. The more widespread form, with leaf segments 1-2 mm wide and more variable flowers, has been called R. adoneus var. alpinus. The leaf and flower characteristics are very poorly correlated, however, and specimens referable to var. alpinus vary greatly in stature and flower size, so the two forms scarcely merit formal recognition.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ranunculus adoneus"
Alan T. Whittemore +
A. Gray +
Ranunculus sect. Marsypadenium +
Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
2500-4000 m +
Spring-summer (May–Sep). Alpine and subalpine meadows, usually around melting snowbanks +
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia +
Ranunculus adoneus var. alpinus +, Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. adoneus +  and Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. alpinus +
Ranunculus adoneus +
Ranunculus sect. Epirotes +
species +