Ranunculus Ranunculus, L.

8. R. acris L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 554 (1753).

Perennial 30-100 cm. Glabrescent, appressed-pubescent or with stiff patent or deflexed hairs on stem. Stock premorse, oblique, or forming a stout creeping rhizome. Basal leaves more or less deeply divided into 3-7 sessile segments, which are ovate-cuneate in outline, dentate and simple or again divided; cauline leaves resembling the basal but smaller. Flowers 15-25 mm in diameter. Honey-leaves golden-yellow. Head of achenes globose. Achenes 2-3-5 mm, broadly elliptic or suborbicular; beak short, hooked. Most o f Europe. All except Az Bl Cr Lu Rs (K) Si Tu; introduced in Sb. This very variable species is divisible into a number of subspecies, most of which are in need of further investigation. They differ in presence or absence of rhizome; shape and dissection of leaves; pubescence; presence or absence o f hairs on the filaments; and shape and size of achene. Intermediates appear to occur between the various taxa where their distributions overlap. The following are among the better known and more distinct subspecies but several others undoubtedly occur:

1 Stock short, premorse; leaf-lobes linear-lanceolate or, if wider, plant rarely more than 20 cm

2 Plant 30-50 cm, glabrescent or ±appressed pilose; basal leaves usually much-divided, lobes narrow; flowers numerous (a) subsp. acris 2 Plant 10-20 cm, usually patent-pilose below; basal leaves with 3(-5) usually wide segments with a few coarse teeth; flowers usually 1-3, large, often brown-veined (b) subsp. borealis 1 Stock a stout ±horizontal rhizome; leaf-lobes ovate or ovateoblong; plant usually 50-120 cm

3 Leaves soft, thin, sericeous beneath when young; filaments glabrous; beak of achene strongly curved

(c) subsp. friesianus 3 Leaves coriaceous, thick, strigose; filaments pubescent; beak

of achene ± straight

4 Basal sinus of lower leaves narrow; sepals with whitish + appressed hairs all of about the same length

(d) subsp. granatensis 4 Basal sinus of lower leaves wide; sepals with ± patent reddish hairs, short at base and long at apex of sepal

(e) subsp. strigulosus