Plants villous. Stems erect, not bulbous-based, without bulbils. Roots basal, never tuberous. Leaves all basal, petiolate; blade 1-2×-dissected. Inflorescences terminal, solitary flowers. Flowers: sepals persistent in fruit, 5, 3-6 × 1-2 mm; petals 5, yellow; nectary scale attached basally, forming flap over nectary, glabrous, free margin entire; style present. Fruits achenes, 3-locular, lateral locules empty; achene body ellipsoid, about as wide as thick, not prolonged beyond seed; wall firm, smooth; margin low narrow ridge; beak much longer than achene body.

Distribution

North America, Pacific Islands, Australia, Europe, c, sw Asia, and n Africa

Discussion

Species 10 (1 in the flora).

Ranunculus subg. Ceratocephalus is very different in aspect and fruit structure from other species of the genus; it is often treated as a distinct genus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Ranunculus testiculatus