Ranunculus pygmaeus

Wahlenberg

Fl. Lapp., 157. 1812.

Synonyms: Ranunculus pygmaeus var. langeana Nathorst
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems erect or ascending from short caudices, 0.6-3.5 cm (sometimes longer in fruit), each with 1-2 flowers. Roots slender, 0.1-0.6 mm thick. Basal leaves persistent, blades reniform to transversely elliptic or semicircular, 3-parted or divided, 0.45-0.9 × 0.6-1.3 cm, at least lateral segments again lobed, base truncate or nearly cordate, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse. Flowers: pedicels glabrous or pubescent; receptacle glabrous; sepals 2-4 × 1.2-1.6 mm, abaxially sparsely hairy, hairs colorless; petals 5, 1.2-3.5 × 1.1-2.8 mm; nectary scale glabrous. Heads of achenes nearly globose to cylindric, 2.5-7 × 2.5-5 mm; achenes 1-1.2 × 0.8-1.1 mm, glabrous; beak subulate, straight or curved, 0.3-0.7 mm. 2n = 16.


Phenology: Flowering summer (Jul–Sep).
Habitat: Arctic and alpine meadows and slopes, usually around persistent snow patches
Elevation: 0-4000 m

Distribution

V3 185-distribution-map.gif

Greenland, Alta., B.C., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., Que., Yukon, Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wyo., Europe (Spitsbergen)

Discussion

Ranunculus pygmaeus var. langeana has been described as having deeply divided basal leaves and strongly elongate heads of achenes (at least 5 mm). These characteristics are not well correlated with one another, however, and the variety does not seem natural.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ranunculus pygmaeus"
not prolonged +
asymmetrically thick-lenticular +  and compressed-globose +
1.2-2 times as wide as thick +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
0.8mm;1.1mm +
rounded +  and obtuse +
Alan T. Whittemore +
Wahlenberg +
cordate +  and truncate +
Ranunculus sect. Marsypadenium +
curved +  and straight +
subulate +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br />) +
0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
divided;3-parted;semicircular;reniform to transversely +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
large +  and small +
globose;cylindric +
sometimes;sessile;nearly sessile +
1-50-flowered +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
Greenland +, Alta. +, B.C. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, N.W.T. +, Que. +, Yukon +, Alaska +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Utah +, Wyo. +  and Europe (Spitsbergen) +
0-4000 m +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
sessile +  and aggregate +
cylindric;obovoid;cylindric;obovoid;globose;lenticular;discoid +
Arctic and alpine meadows and slopes, usually around persistent snow patches +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
nearly globose;cylindric +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
axillary +  and terminal +
reniform +  and linear +
compound +  and simple +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
cauline +  and basal +
parted +  and lobed +
palmate +  and pinnate +
inconspicuous +
fringed;entire;crenate;entire +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
distinct +
1.2mm;3.5mm +
conspicuous +
linear +  and orbiculate +
reduced +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (2.6 cm26 mm <br />0.026 m <br />) +
0.11 cm1.1 mm <br />0.0011 m <br /> (0.28 cm2.8 mm <br />0.0028 m <br />) +
Flowering summer (Jul–Sep). +
4 +  and 250 +
slender +
0.01 cm0.1 mm <br />1.0e-4 m <br /> (0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br />) +
not arillate +  and stalked +
again +  and undivided +
white;yellow;white;yellow;purple;sometimes;green +
deciduous +
distinct +
oblong +  and elliptic ovate or lanceolate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.16 cm1.6 mm <br />0.0016 m <br />) +
(5-)10-many +
not bulbous-based +
ascending +  and erect +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
persistent +
Ranunculus pygmaeus var. langeana +
Ranunculus pygmaeus +
Ranunculus sect. Epirotes +
species +
perennial +  and annual +
pubescent +, pilose +, sometimes +  and glabrous +
herbaceous +  and woody +