Ranunculus alismifolius

Stems erect or ascending, not rooting nodally, glabrous or hirsute. Roots slender or fusiform-thickened basally, glabrous. Leaves: basal leaf blades with base acute; proximal cauline leaf blades lanceolate, ovate, or elliptic, 1.8-14.1 × 0.7-2.9 cm, base acuminate to rounded, margins entire or serrulate, apex obtuse to acuminate. Inflorescences: bracts lanceolate. Flowers: receptacle glabrous; sepals 5, spreading or reflexed from base, 2-6 × 1-4 mm, glabrous or hirsute; petals 5-12, 5-14 × 2-8 mm; nectary scales glabrous. Heads of achenes hemispheric to globose, 3-7 × 4-8 mm; achenes 1.6-2.8 × 1.2-2 mm, glabrous or rarely hispid; beak lance-subulate, straight or weakly curved, 0.4-1.2 mm.

Distribution

North America

Discussion

Varieties 6 (6 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus, Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius, Ranunculus alismifolius var. davisii, Ranunculus alismifolius var. hartwegii, Ranunculus alismifolius var. lemmonii, Ranunculus alismifolius var. montanus

Key

1	Petals 7–12 on most flowers, 2–3 mm broad.	Ranunculus alismifolius var. montanus
1	Petals 4–6(–8), 2–8 mm broad.	> 2
2	Stems 3.5–8 mm thick; leaf margins serrulate.	Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius
2	Stems 1–3 mm thick; leaf margins entire.	> 3
3	Leaf blades ovate or elliptic.	Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus
3	Leaf blades broadly to narrowly lanceolate.	> 4
4	Petals 10–14 mm; California and Nevada.	Ranunculus alismifolius var. lemmonii
4	Petals 5–8 mm; widespread.	> 5
5	Roots fusiform-thickened proximally; stems and petioles glabrous or pubescent.	Ranunculus alismifolius var. davisii
5	Roots not or scarcely fusiform-thickened proximally; stems and petioles glabrous.	Ranunculus alismifolius var. hartwegii