Ranunculaceae Juss.

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The plant family Ranunculaceae was named and described by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in Genera Plantarum in 1789.

As of 12-13-21 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 50 accepted genera in this family commonly referred to as the buttercup or crowfoot family. 

There are some members of this family I have trouble identifying because several species in the genera look A LOT alike… You can click on the plant’s name under the photos to take you to the pages of the species I have identified or grown.

For more information about this family of plants, please click on the links below. The links take you directly to the information about the family. I am going to add photos at some point… 

PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA
WIKIPEDIA

I ran across this Anemone virginiana var. virginiana (Tall Thimbleweed) along the trail next to my farm on June 16 in 2021. Plants of the species found in Missouri are identifiable as Anemone virginiana var. virginiana. The other two varieties are found mainly in the northeast and Canada but some of their ranges overlap…

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I brought this Aquilegia virdiflora ‘Chocolate Soldier’ home from Lowe’s in the spring of 2012 when I lived in Mississippi. It did pretty well but I was expecting the flowers to be larger. I should have brought it with me when I moved back to the family farm in Missouri in 2013…

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Clematis terniflora (Autumn Clematis) has made its home on the fence along the front pasture of the farm. I noticed one has also started on the fence along the road. As long as it stays put without trying to take over it is OK… The flowers are always teaming with life. Several states have it listed as an invasive species… Sweet Autumn Virginsbower is another common name.

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I think the packet of seeds I planted that was labeled “Larkspur” when I lived in Mississippi and plants I bought from a local greenhouse that said “Delphinium Mix” were Delphinium ajacis (Giant Larkspur). Delphinium ajacis and D. consolida are both hard to tell apart. Both species were previously in the Consolida genus (among others). Consolida species were considered annuals (or self-seeding annuals) while Delphinium species were perennials Phylogenetic testing showed that Consolida is an annual clade nested within the Delphinium genus. So, Consolida species were moved to the Delphinium genus but many websites still use the genus name Consolida…

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I found this little Enemion biternatum (False Rue Anemone) growing next to a tree in a friend’s secluded woods in 2020. Never know what you will run across if you look close.

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There are several species of Ranunculus growing on the farm that are very difficult to tell apart. I identified a few including this Ranunculus abortivus (Small-Flowered Buttercup) in 2020. Common names include Small-Flowered Buttercup, Littleleaf Buttercup, Kidneyleaf Buttercup, Kidneyleaf Crowfoot, Small-Flowered Crowfoot, and possibly others.

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I think this small colony of Ranunculus turned out to be Ranunculus fascicularis (Early Buttercup). I only have one photo of this one and the other taken in 2021 is kind of “iffy”… Common names include Early Buttercup, Prairie Buttercup, Early Crowfoot, Tufted Buttercup, and possibly others.

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I finally think I properly identified this species as Ranunculus hispidus (Bristly Buttercup) in 2021… It is funny how members on iNaturalist are not so enthused to agree when you add an observation for a species that is difficult. Like me, they would rather meet them in person.

 

That’s all I have experience with for the plant family Ranunculaceae. I still have a few colonies of Ranunculus to properly identify…