1. Ranunculaceae the Buttercup Family BUTTERCUP Family
Ca3-X Co0-A G[1,3,5]

2. Leaves palmately veined, lobed, or divided Leaf bases sheathing
Vegetative Features
Herbs
Leaves alternate
Leaves palmately veined, lobed, or divided
Leaf bases sheathing
Sheathing leaf base in
Ranunculus
Palmately divided
leaf of tall buttercup

3. Reproductive Features
Flowers radially symmetrical
Androecium of many stamens
Gynoecium of many simple pistils

4. Flower parts are commonly inserted on an elongate receptacle

5. Gynoecium of many simple pistils
Fruit an achene

6. Other fruit types in the Ranunculaceae ...
Fruit a berry
(doll’s eyes)
Fruit a follicle
(monkshood)

7. Economic importance:
This family is not particularly significant economically, but many are toxic to both humans and livestock
Golden seal is much used in herbal medicine
Some are popular ornamentals, e.g., monkshood, clematis, larkspur
Columbine is the state flower of Colorado

8. Aconitum napellus
monkshood, aconite, or wolfsbane
Poisonous!
Monkshood has a long history of use
as an ornamental, in witchcraft, and
in medicinal botany. The active
component is the alkaloid aconitine.

9. Japanese anemone