Ranunculus macounii

           
Macoun's Buttercup

Middle Stem Leaf Top

Turtle Mountain Provincial Park
27-July-2004

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Macounii:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  
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terrestrial plants; NOT aquatic plants, NOT creeping mud plants, leaves NOT mostly floating, leaves NOT submersed

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stems usually erect, upright

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plants larger than 5 cm high

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leaves all, or in part, deeply lobed to compound; NOT simple, NOT entire, NOT merely toothed

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basal and cauline leaves all deeply incised or divided into distinct segments, the cauline smaller or with fewer segments, or with shorter petioles; NOT [basal and cauline leaves distinctly unalike; some or all of the basal leaves merely toothed (or entire), most of the cauline deeply cleft and sessile or subsessile]

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basal leaves lobed almost to the base, or divided; NOT crenate, NOT lobed to almost halfway

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basal leaves ovate to rhomboid, or reniform; NOT [elliptic to linear and not deeply divided]

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terminal segment of the larger leaves stalked; NOT sessile

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leaves trifoliate; NOT divided into many narrow segments

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stem and inflorescence leaves on well-developed petioles; these leaves NOT sessile, NOT subsessile

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flowers larger than 6-8 mm across

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sepals usually 5; NOT 3

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sepals reflexed at base; NOT spreading, NOT incurved

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sepals 3.5-5 mm long

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petals equaling or longer than the sepals; NOT shorter than the sepals

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petals 4-7 mm long; NOT 7-15 mm

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petals yellow; NOT white, NOT white with some yellow at base

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heads of achenes ovoid to globose; NOT cylindric-oblong

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achenes glabrous; NOT pubescent

 
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Ranunculus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants NOT climbing

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both basal and stem leaves usually present; leaves NOT all basal

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leaves either basal or alternate; NOT opposite

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leaves with segments mostly toothed, acute; leaves NOT [all 3-lobed with lobes entire, rounded]

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flowers regular; sepals NOT spurred

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petals usually present (yellow or whitish)

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carpels 1-ovuled; NOT with several ovules

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fruit an achene; NOT a follicle, NOT a dry pod, NOT berry-like

 

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Ranunculaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.  Not all members of family Ranunculaceae found on the Canadian prairies match these answers, but this species does.
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herbs; NOT shrubs, NOT trees

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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf; leaves NOT used to catch insects, NOT spiny plants with absent or inconspicuous leaves

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plants terrestrial or semi-aquatic; NOT with submerged leaves, NOT with floating leaves

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some or all leaves alternate

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leaves WITHOUT stipules

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flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

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calyx regular, all sepals the same size

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stamens usually more than 10

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carpels separate; NOT united