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.

Ranunculus bullatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
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

Description

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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

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

Etymology

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

Subspecies

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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

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  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.