Ranunculus bullatus, commonly known as autumn buttercup,[2] is a perennial member of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe and north Africa, including most Mediterranean islands.
| Ranunculus bullatus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Ranunculus |
| Species: | R. bullatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Ranunculus bullatus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
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Its leaves, which only grow at the base of the stem, are 2–6 cm long, oval, and have broad rounded teeth. Each plant has 1 or 2 flowers which are yellow, scented and about 25mm in diameter. Each has 5-12 petals which are slightly irregular.[3] It flowers from October to December, often covering large areas of ground.[4]
Distribution and habitat edit
Grows throughout the Mediterranean region, including north Africa, in rocky places, olive groves and dry fields, from sea-level up to 900m.[5]
Etymology edit
In Latin Rānunculus means "little frog", from rāna "frog", and bullatus means "inflated".[6]
Subspecies edit
There are three subspecies, Ranunculus bullatus subsp. bullatus (L.)[7] which grows in the Iberian Peninsula, France and Italy; Ranunculus bullatus subsp. cytheraeus (Halácsy)[8] which grows in the eastern Mediterranean including Libya; and Ranunculus bullatus subsp. supranudus (Jordan & Fourr.) [9] which grows in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
References edit
- ^ "Ranunculus bullatus L." INPN.
- ^ "Ranunculus bullatus - Autumn Buttercup". eimagesite.org. eimage. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ Polunin, Oleg (1988). Flowers of South-west Europe: A Field Guide. Oxford University Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0192881786.
- ^ Blamey, Marjorie (2008). Flores silvestres del Mediterráneo. Barcelona:Omega. ISBN 978-84-282-1450-6.
- ^ "Ranunculus bullatus". cretanflora.com. Cretan Flora. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
- ^ "Ranunculus bullatus L." tela-botanica.org. Tela-botanica. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "Ranunculus bullatus subsp. cytheraeus (Halácsy) Vierh". catalogueoflife.org. Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "Ranunculus bullatus subsp. supranudus". catalogueoflife.org. Catalogue of life. Retrieved 28 November 2016.