Common name: Ferny Buttercup
Ranunculus pumilio R.Br. ex DC. APNI* Description: Annual, pilose or the stems subglabrous.
Flowering stems to 40 cm high, branching.
Lower leaves with lamina 5–20 mm long and somewhat broader, with c. 5 blunt teeth, upper leaves ternate or palmatisect with the lobes cut into acute, lanceolate or linear segments; petiole mostly 1.5–7.5 cm long. Petals obovate to spathulate, 1.5–2 mm long, yellow; nectary above middle of petal.
Achenes 1.5–2 mm long with a very short obtuse to subacute triangular beak.
Flowering: late winter to early summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in intermittently moist sites, mostly in grassland or woodland.
NSW subdivisions: NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. N.T. S.A. W.A.
Text by B. G. Briggs & R. O. Makinson Taxon concept:
| Key to the varieties | |
1 | Achenes with numerous very small tubercles bearing hairs; sepals mostly 5 | var. pumilio |
| Achenes smooth and glabrous; sepals mostly 3 or 4 | var. politus |
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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