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Ranunculus amphitrichus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Small river buttercup
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species:
R. amphitrichus
Binomial name
Ranunculus amphitrichus

Ranunculus amphitrichus commonly known as the small river buttercup,[2] is a flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It has glossy green leaves, daisy-like yellow flowers and grows in Western Australia, southeastern Australia and New Zealand.

Description

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Ranunculus amphitrichus is an aquatic perennial, stems arising from leaf clusters and sparsely covered with soft, weak, thin hairs or smooth. The leaves are a glossy green, more or less circular, 1–10 cm (0.39–3.94 in) in diameter, lobed, sometimes floating, petiole 5–24 cm (2.0–9.4 in) long, yellow flowers on branched or simple stems 7–35 cm (2.8–13.8 in) long, usually five petals, narrowly oblanceolate or oblong and wedge-shaped at the base, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and 0.8–1.8 mm (0.031–0.071 in) wide. Flowering occurs from December to March and the fruit is a green achene thickly covered with soft, weak hairs.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

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Ranunculus amphitrichus was first formally described in 1885 by William Colenso and the description was published in Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute.[4][5]The specific epithet (amphitrichus) means "both sides" and "hair".[6]

Distribution and habitat

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Small river buttercup grows in swamps, lakes and slow-flowing streams in shallow water in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Ranunculus amphitrichus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b Briggs, B.G.; Makinson, R.O. "Ranunculus amphitrichus". PLANTNET-NSW Flora online. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.
  3. ^ Sharp, Sarah; Rehwinkel, Rainer; Mallinson, Dave; Eddy, David (2015). Woodland Flora a Field Guide for the Southern Tableland (NSW & ACT). Canberra: Horizons Print Management. ISBN 9780994495808.
  4. ^ "Ranunculus amphitrichus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  5. ^ Colenso, William (1885). "Ranunculus amphitrichus". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 17: 237. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  6. ^ George, A.S; Sharr, F.A (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables. p. 134. ISBN 9780958034197.
  7. ^ Stajsic, Val. "Ranunculus amphitrichus". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 12 September 2024.