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Ranunculus plebeius

R.Br. ex DC. (1817)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Ranunculopsida Order: Ranunculales Family: Ranunculaceae Genus: Ranunculus

common Australian buttercup

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs 2–8 dm tall, sparsely to densely hirsute.

Stems:

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves compound (ternate). Cauline Alternate. Leaflets rhombic–ovate to rhombic–obovate, leaflets 1,5–7 cm long and wide. Lobe apex obtuse to bluntly acute. Surfaces appressed hirsute, especially along veins. Leaflet margins deeply and irregularly 3–lobed, each lobe usually again lobed; cauline leaves margins entire or serrate. Petiolate. Stipules absent or minute.

Flowers: Flowers usually few in loose cymes. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Calyx of 5 sepals, ovate to elliptic–ovate,3.5–4 mm long, reflexed. Corolla of 5 petals, golden yellow and glossy on upper surface, obovate, 5–7 mm long. Stamens (5–)numerous; anthers dithecal, opening by a longitudinal slit. Ovary superior; carpels numerous, each 1-celled.

Fruit: Achenes numerous in an ovoid–globose head; obovate–cuneate; 1.8–2.8 mm long; the faces smooth (inconspicuously pitted under high magnification); narrowly margined; beak slender; 0.7–1 mm long; hooked. Seeds with a copious endosperm and small embryo.

Ploidy: 2n = 16

Habitat: Mesic to wet forest and at lower elevations along roadsides.

Elevation Range: 700–1,730 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Syst. Nat. 1: 288 (1817)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1089 (H)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ranunculus plebeius South Kona; Kiilae In moist open kepuka. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1514 Hawaii BISH 1936-08-21
2 Ranunculus plebeius North Kona District: Keauhou 2 AHUPUAA: Tr 54(31); W. slope of Hualalai; N. of Puu Laalaau Mesic koa-mamane forest with other native trees and an exotic grass, native shrub u/s. Locally common; growing on a`a substrate. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 1901 Hawaii BISH 1978-06-27
3 Ranunculus plebeius Kona: Kikiaeae Road edge. Preserved_Specimen Christ, J.H. Hawaii BISH 1958-05-16
4 Ranunculus plebeius South Hilo District, Kulani Project Growing among grasses, Holcus and Anthoxanthum, and with Fragaria vesca in disturbed Metrosideros forest with Myrsine, Rubus hawaiensis and Styphelia. Seen along this transect (GG). Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 448 Hawaii BISH 1981-02-12
5 Ranunculus plebeius South Kona, Honaunau Forest Reserve, near Kealakekua Ranch Growing in kikuyu grass, disturbed native forest with Eucalyptus plantings. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 259 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-31
6 Ranunculus plebeius Hanuaula, Kona Preserved_Specimen Walker, R. Hawaii BISH 1982-08-12
7 Ranunculus plebeius South Hilo District, Kulani Project Growing among grasses, Holcus and Anthoxanthum, and with Fragaria vesca in disturbed Metrosideros forest with Myrsine, Rubus hawaiensis, and Styphelia. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 448 Hawaii BISH 1981-02-12
8 Ranunculus plebeius Kona Coast, Kaumalumalu Weed of disturbed roadside. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1651 Hawaii BISH 1970-07-03
9 Ranunculus plebeius North Hilo District: Piha AHU. Tr 17(93); E. slope of Mauna Kea, in large channel along Waikaumalo Stream Wet koa-ohia forest with other native trees and a treefern, native shrub understory. Growing at base of damp banks & boulders. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 1577 Hawaii BISH 1977-11-29
10 Ranunculus plebeius North Kona District: Keauhou 2 AHUPUAA: Tr 54(28); W. slope of Hualalai; N. of Puu Laalaau Mesic koa-mamane forest with other native trees and an exotic grass, native shrub u/s. Growing on a`a w/ash. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 1898 Hawaii BISH 1978-06-27
11 Ranunculus plebeius South Kona District: Alika AHUPUAA: Tr 69(24); SW slopes Mauna Loa; 0.5 km S. Alika 1919 & 2 kim N. Hoopuloa 1926 flows Mesic koa-ohia forest w/other native trees and a native-exotic shrub and grass u/s. Growing on a`a substrate. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2010 Hawaii BISH 1978-07-24
12 Ranunculus plebeius South Kona; Kiilae In moist open kepuka. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1514 Hawaii BISH 1936-08-21
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