Family: Ranunculaceae
Common name: buttercup or crowfoot family
Diversity: Worldwide: ~50 genera; ~2,000 species
U.S.: 21 genera
PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 17 genera
Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites

Flower
K3-x Co0-x S P
Sexuality: mostly bisexual, (2 dioecious genera)
Symmetry: actinomorphic or zygomorphic
Inflorescence: solitary, raceme, or cyme
Calyx (sepals): 3 to several, separate
Corolla (petals): usu. 5 or absent, separate
Androecium: stamens numerous, spiral insertion
Gynoecium: 3 to many carpels, separate, superior ovary (=hypogynous)
Fruit: achene, follicle, or berry (rarely capsule)
Other features: perianth often petaloid (indistinct calyx/corolla) petals spurred in a few genera, with nectar present

Back to the top of the page

Vegetative Features
usu. sheathing leaf-base; alkaloids, glycodsides, or saponins in sap (can be quite toxic).
Leaves: usu. alternate, simple to divided to palmately- compound, usu. exstipulate
Life-history: annual to perennial
Habit: mostly herbs, some shrubs and vines, some woody
Distribution & Ecology: temperate/cooler regions of N. Hemisphere
diverse in e. Asia and e. N. America
Some Northwest Genera: Anemone wind or pasque-flower
Aquilegia columbine
Clematis virgin's bower
Delphinium larkspur
Ranunculus buttercup
Thalictrum meadow-rue

Back to the top of the page

Economic Importance
Crops: a few are medicinal plants, several toxic
Ornamentals: Aconitum monk's hood
Anemone wind or pasque-flower
Aquilegia columbine
Delphinium larkspur
Ranunculus buttercup
Thalictrum meadow-rue
Weedy and pest species: Clematis vitalba Traveler's joy
Delphinium spp. can be toxic to livestock

Back to the top of the page

Examples Anemone
Anemone
Trollius
Ranunculus
Aquilegia
Delphinium
click on the genus name for a flower image

Back to the top of the page




Links to Other Web Sites



Texas A & M Univ.
Image Gallery		A collection of images for plants in the Ranunculaceae, listed alphabetically by genus.
University of.
Hamburg Site		A German site with pictures from several genera in the Buttercup Family.

Back to the top of the page

Maintained by the Reed College Biology Department
Last Modified 2/2/98
Questions/Comments to Keith.Karoly@directory.reed.edu