Ranunculus alismifolius
Pl. Hartw., 295. 1849.
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
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 |