- perianth is usually regular and of many separate petals and/or sepals; often with tepals only (which look like petals); perianth zygomorphic in Delphinium and Aconitum
- perianth parts spirally arranged (considered primitive)
- stamens: usually many and spirally arranged
- gynoecium hypogynous of 3 to many separate, superior, unilocular, spirally arranged pistils
- floral formula:
- follicle or achene - Note: the buttercups display many characteristics considered primitive such as regular flowers, lack of fusion, many separate parts, superior ovaries, and spirally arranged parts
- leaves mostly alternate, compound (most often palmately compound)
- all of our local species are herbaceous
- economic value only as ornamentals (peony, larkspur, clematis, columbine, anemones)
- Buttercups (Ranunculus)
- Marsh Marigold (Caltha)
- Hepatica, Liverleaf (Hepatica)
- Windflowers (Anemone)
- Rue Anemone (Anemonella)
- Peony (Paeonia)
- Clematis (Clematis)
- Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Larkspur (Delphinium)
- Meadow Rue (Thalictrum) Note: Meadow Rue is unusual for this family in that it has unisexual, wind-pollinated flowers. Leaf shape appears in other genera which often have a species epithet "thalictroides" = Thalictrum-like
Ranunculaceae
Flora
of North America http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10757
Univ
of Wisconsin http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/courses/systematics/family_index/Family_Pages/
Family_R_S_T/Ranunculaceae.html
