Ranunculus macauleyi

A. Gray

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 15: 45. 1879.

EndemicIllustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems erect from short caudices, 6-15 cm, glabrous or sometimes pilose, each with 1-2 flowers. Roots slender, 0.7-1.3 mm thick. Basal leaves persistent, blades narrowly elliptic to lanceolate or oblanceolate, undivided, 1.5-4.5 × 0.5-1.1(-2.8) cm, base acute or long-attenuate, margins entire except for apex, apex truncate or rounded and 3(-5)-toothed. Flowers: pedicels glabrous or brown-pilose; receptacle glabrous; sepals 6-12 × 2.5-8 mm, abaxially densely brown-pilose; petals 5(-8), 10-19 × 6-17 mm; nectary scale glabrous. Heads of achenes ovoid or cylindric, 5-10 × 4-5.5 mm; achenes 1.5-1.7 × 1.2-1.3 mm, glabrous; beak slender, straight or recurved, 0.5-1.5(-2.2) mm.


Phenology: Flowering late spring–summer (Jun–Aug).
Habitat: Sunny open soil of alpine meadows and slopes
Elevation: 3300-3700 m

Discussion

The type specimen of Ranunculus macauleyi var. brandegeei L. D. Benson, from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado, differs from typical R. macauleyi in its tall stem, broad, crenate-laciniate leaves, and sepals with pale or transparent hairs. These characteristics are suggestive of R. inamoenus, and the plant may be of hybrid ancestry.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ranunculus macauleyi"
Alan T. Whittemore +
A. Gray +
Ranunculus sect. Marsypadenium +
Colo. +  and N.Mex. +
3300-3700 m +
Sunny open soil of alpine meadows and slopes +
Flowering late spring–summer (Jun–Aug). +
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts +
Endemic +  and Illustrated +
Ranunculus macauleyi +
Ranunculus sect. Epirotes +
species +