Ranunculus flammula var. ovalis
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 69: 305. 1942.
Stems prostrate or sometimes ascending, 0.5-2 mm thick. Leaf blades lance-elliptic to lanceolate or linear, 0.8-3.3 × 0.2-0.8 cm. Flowers: sepals 2-3 mm; petals 3-5 × 2-3 mm. 2n = 32.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer (May–Sep).
Habitat: Muddy ground or shallow water
Elevation: 0-2900 m
Distribution
Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Idaho, Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nev., N.H., N.Mex., N.Y., N.Dak., Oreg., Pa., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wyo.
Discussion
Ranunculus flammula var. ovalis, as currently understood, is heterogeneous. Many specimens from throughout the cited range scarcely differ from specimens of R. flammula var. reptans and perhaps should be included in the latter variety. Material from the Pacific slope, however, may be intermediate between R. flammula var. reptans and R. flammula var. flammula or may show various combinations of the distinguishing characteristics of the two. Biosystematic study of R. flammula as a whole will be needed for a meaningful treatment of these populations to be possible.
Selected References
None.