Ranunculus bullatus

Ranunculus bullatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Order:Ranunculales
Family:Ranunculaceae
Genus:Ranunculus
Species: R. bullatus
Binomial name
Ranunculus bullatus
Synonyms[1]
  • Ionosmanthus plantagineus
  • Ionosmanthus rhombifolius
  • Ionosmanthus semicalvus
  • Ranunculus plantagineus
  • Ranunculus rhombifolius
  • Ranunculus semicalvus
  • Ranunculus supranudus

Ranunculus bullatus, commonly known as autumn buttercup,[2] is a perennial member of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe and north Africa, including most Mediterranean islands.

Description

Oval, toothed leaves

Its leaves, which only grow at the base of the stem, are 2–6 cm long, oval, and have broad rounded teeth. Each plant has 1 or 2 flowers which are yellow, scented and about 25mm in diameter. Each has 5-12 petals which are slightly irregular.[3] It flowers from October to December, often covering large areas of ground.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Grows throughout the Mediterranean region, including north Africa, in rocky places, olive groves and dry fields, from sea-level up to 900m.[5]

Etymology

In Latin Rānunculus means "little frog", from rāna "frog", and bullatus means "inflated".[6]

Subspecies

There are three subspecies, Ranunculus bullatus subsp. bullatus (L.)[7] which grows in the Iberian Peninsula, France and Italy; Ranunculus bullatus subsp. cytheraeus (Halácsy)[8] which grows in the eastern Mediterranean including Libya; and Ranunculus bullatus subsp. supranudus (Jordan & Fourr.) [9] which grows in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

References

  1. ↑ "Ranunculus bullatus L." INPN.
  2. ↑ "Ranunculus bullatus - Autumn Buttercup". eimagesite.org. eimage. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Polunin, Oleg (1988). Flowers of South-west Europe: A Field Guide. Oxford University Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0192881786.
  4. ↑ Blamey, Marjorie (2008). Flores silvestres del Mediterráneo. Barcelona:Omega. ISBN 978-84-282-1450-6.
  5. ↑ "Ranunculus bullatus". cretanflora.com. Cretan Flora. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. ↑ Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
  7. ↑ "Ranunculus bullatus L." tela-botanica.org. Tela-botanica. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Ranunculus bullatus subsp. cytheraeus (Halácsy) Vierh". catalogueoflife.org. Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Ranunculus bullatus subsp. supranudus". catalogueoflife.org. Catalogue of life. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
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