Ranunculus ambigens
Bibl. Index N. Amer. Bot. 1: 16. 1878.
Stems erect or ascending, rooting at proximal nodes, glabrous or sparsely hirsute. Roots not thickened basally, glabrous or somewhat canescent proximally. Proximal cauline leaf blades lanceolate, 5.9-12.2 × 1.1-2.4 cm, base rounded-obtuse to acuminate, margins denticulate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences: bracts linear or lanceolate. Flowers: receptacle glabrous; sepals 5, spreading or sometimes reflexed from base, 3-5 × 2-3 mm, glabrous; petals 5, 5-8 × 2-3 mm; nectary scales glabrous. Heads of achenes short-ovoid to depressed-globose, 5-7 × 4-8 mm; achenes 1.8 × 1.2-1.4 mm, glabrous; beak lanceolate, straight, 0.6-1.2 mm.
Phenology: Flowering late spring–summer (May–Aug).
Habitat: Creeks, ponds, ditches, marshes
Elevation: 0-700 m
Distribution
Ala., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., Va., W.Va.
Discussion
The name Ranunculus obtusiusculus Rafinesque has been mistakenly used for R. ambigens.
Selected References
None.