Ranunculaceae

Abstract

Ranunculaceae, also known as buttercup or crowfoot family, in the order of Ranunculales, is a family of Dicotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of about 43 genera with more than 2000 species, worldwide distribution, mainly in N temperate regions, particularly in East Asia. Plants are perennial or annual herbs, sometimes subshrubs or herbaceous or woody vines. Leaves are simple or compound, alternate, basal and cauline, and often exstipulate. Flowers are bisexual, sometimes unisexual, actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic, solitary or arranged to cymose, and racemose or paniculate. Plants are monoecious or dioecious. Sepals are 2–5 or more, green, petaloid, imbricate or sometimes valvate in bud, or specialized to secretory organs, and sometimes caducous. Petals are present or absent, 2–5 or more, free, and usually with nectaries. Stamens are numerous, rarely few, free, and spiral. Filaments are linear or filiform. Anthers are 2-loculed, longitudinally dehiscent, and sometimes with staminodes. Carpels are numerous or few, rarely 1, free, rarely connate, and spiral or whorled on bulged receptacles. Ovary is with 1 to numerous ovules, anatropous. Fruit is a follicle or an achene, rarely a capsule or a berry, often with persistent styles. Seeds are small, with abundant endosperm and minute embryo. Ten species, belonging to four different genera, are illustrated in the chapter.