Ranunculus canus
Encyclopedia
Ranunculus canus is a species of buttercup
known by the common name Sacramento Valley buttercup. It is endemic to California
, where it grows in the Central Valley and adjacent mountain foothills, and the Transverse Ranges
just south. It grows in grassland and meadows in woodland and forest habitat. This plant can be very similar in appearance to the California buttercup
(Ranunculus californicus), and may be difficult to distinguish from it. It is variable in form. In general the plant is a perennial herb producing erect, usually hairy stems up to 65 centimeters tall. The hairy leaves are each made up of three leaflets, leaves occurring lower on the plant with wider leaflets which may be notched to lobed, and upper leaves with narrow, toothed leaflets. The flower has up to 23 shiny yellow petals and many yellow stamen
s and pistils
at the center. The fruit is an achene
, borne in a spherical cluster of 11 or more.
Ranunculus
Ranunculus is a large genus of about 600 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus include the buttercups, spearworts, water crowfoots and the lesser celandine....
known by the common name Sacramento Valley buttercup. It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in the Central Valley and adjacent mountain foothills, and the Transverse Ranges
Transverse Ranges
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region that runs along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie between...
just south. It grows in grassland and meadows in woodland and forest habitat. This plant can be very similar in appearance to the California buttercup
California buttercup
Ranunculus californicus, the California buttercup, is a flowering plant of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is a native of California, where it is common in many chaparral and woodlands and other habitats. Its distribution extends from Southern California north into Oregon and south into Baja...
(Ranunculus californicus), and may be difficult to distinguish from it. It is variable in form. In general the plant is a perennial herb producing erect, usually hairy stems up to 65 centimeters tall. The hairy leaves are each made up of three leaflets, leaves occurring lower on the plant with wider leaflets which may be notched to lobed, and upper leaves with narrow, toothed leaflets. The flower has up to 23 shiny yellow petals and many yellow stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s and pistils
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
at the center. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
, borne in a spherical cluster of 11 or more.