Lapponicus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this species. 

	plants of boggy woodlands; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged]
	plants larger, with the stems usually erect; NOT [plants small, rarely more than 5 cm high]
	stems bearing a single leaf and a single flower; NOT [stems bearing several leaves and flowers]
	stem and inflorescence leaves on well-developed petioles; NOT [stem leaves and leaves in the inflorescence sessile or subsessile]
	leaves simple; NOT [leaves compound]; NOT [leaves finely dissected]
	basal leaves ovate, rhomboid or reniform; NOT [basal leaves elliptic to linear]
	basal leaves lobed almost to the base; NOT [basal leaves crenate or lobed to almost halfway]
	sepals usually 3
	achenes tipped with a hooked/curved beak
	achenes glabrous; NOT [achenes pubescent]

Ranunculus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this genus. 

	plants not climbing
	leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]
	leaves not all basal, stem leaves present; NOT [leaves all basal]
	petals usually present; NOT [petals absent, but sepals colored and petal-like]
	flowers regular, not spurred; NOT [flowers irregular or spurred]
	fruit achenes; NOT [fruit dry pods or follicles], NOT [fruit berry-like]
	fruit not with persistent feathery style

Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. Not all the answers apply to all members of this family, but they all do apply to Ranunculus.

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]
	plants not with colored milky juice
	plants with more than one normal leaf
	some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]
	leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]
	flowers with two floral rings
	calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
	each petal distinct from the others
	stamens numerous; NOT [stamens 5 or fewer]; NOT [stamens always exactly 10]
	carpels separate; NOT [carpels united]