Arenaria congesta

Ranunculus macounii

Macoun's Buttercup

G.F. Ledingham Herbarium
University of Regina

Macounii: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.

terrestrial plants; NOT aquatic plants, NOT creeping mud plants, leaves NOT mostly floating, leaves NOT submersed

stems usually erect, upright

plants larger than 5 cm high

leaves all, or in part, deeply lobed to compound; NOT simple, NOT entire, NOT merely toothed

basal and cauline leaves all deeply incised or divided into distinct segments, the cauline smaller or with fewer segments, or with shorter petioles; NOT [basal and cauline leaves distinctly unalike; some or all of the basal leaves merely toothed (or entire), most of the cauline deeply cleft and sessile or subsessile]

basal leaves lobed almost to the base, or divided; NOT crenate, NOT lobed to almost halfway

basal leaves ovate to rhomboid, or reniform; NOT [elliptic to linear and not deeply divided]

terminal segment of the larger leaves stalked; NOT sessile

leaves trifoliate; NOT divided into many narrow segments

stem and inflorescence leaves on well-developed petioles; these leaves NOT sessile, NOT subsessile

flowers larger than 6-8 mm across

sepals usually 5; NOT 3

sepals reflexed at base; NOT spreading, NOT incurved

sepals 3.5-5 mm long

petals equaling or longer than the sepals; NOT shorter than the sepals

petals 4-7 mm long; NOT 7-15 mm

petals yellow; NOT white, NOT white with some yellow at base

heads of achenes ovoid to globose; NOT cylindric-oblong

achenes glabrous; NOT pubescent

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

plants NOT climbing

both basal and stem leaves usually present; leaves NOT all basal

leaves either basal or alternate; NOT opposite

leaves with segments mostly toothed, acute; leaves NOT [all 3-lobed with lobes entire, rounded]

flowers regular; sepals NOT spurred

petals usually present (yellow or whitish)

carpels 1-ovuled; NOT with several ovules

fruit an achene; NOT a follicle, NOT a dry pod, NOT berry-like

Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. Not all members of family Ranunculaceae found on the Canadian prairies match these answers, but this species does.

herbs; NOT shrubs, NOT trees

plants NOT with colored milky juice

plants with more than one normal leaf; leaves NOT used to catch insects, NOT spiny plants with absent or inconspicuous leaves

plants terrestrial or semi-aquatic; NOT with submerged leaves, NOT with floating leaves

some or all leaves alternate

leaves WITHOUT stipules

flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

calyx regular, all sepals the same size

stamens usually more than 10

carpels separate; NOT united