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

	plants NOT woody climbers
	leaves either basal or alternate; NOT [plants with opposite leaves]
	leaves not all basal, stem leaves present; NOT [leaves all basal]
	flowers regular; NOT [flowers irregular]
	sepals NOT spurred
	petals present, mostly yellow; NOT [petals absent, the sepals often colored and petal-like but seldom yellow]
	petals NOT spurred
	carpels 2 or more; NOT [carpel 1]
	ovaries 1-ovuled; NOT [ovaries several-ovuled]
	fruit an achene; NOT [fruit a follicle or berry]
	achenes in globose or cylindrical heads; NOT [achenes in elongate, tapering heads]

Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family. 

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	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]
	leaves mostly submerged, small, coarsely to finely dissected; NOT [leaves mostly floating, large, suborbicular or reniform]
	flowers pedicellate; NOT [flowers sessile, axillary]
	flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others
	flowers perfect; NOT [flowers monoecious]
	calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
	petals mostly white or yellow
	stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 10 or fewer]
	carpels separate; NOT [carpels united]