SPECIES DESCRIPTION
RANUNCULUS TRICHOPHYLLUS
Including:- Ranunculus rionii
Family and Genus:- See- RANUNCULACEAE/Subgen. BATRACHIUM
Common Names:- Thread-leaved water crowfoot
Homotypic Synonyms:- Batrachium aquatile var. Trichophyllum, Batrachium
trichophyllum, Ranunculus hydrocharis, Ranunculus trichophyllus var.
typicus
Meaning:- Ranunculus (L) Little-frog, diminutive of rana, (reference to the water-
loving habit of many species).
Trichophyllus (Gr) With hair-like leaves.
General description:- Robust, erect, aquatic annual or perennial with submerged,
finely divided, feather-like leaves. Rooting only at the lower internodes.
Stems:-
1) Pale green, up to c.1 m long.
Leaves:-
1) Divided 4-5 times, 30-80 mm;
a) petiole, from 2-3 mm up to 30 mm.
2) Stipules, oblong, adnate to the petiole for most of their length.
Flowers:-
1) Pedicels,12-40 mm in fruit, shorter than or equalling the opposite petiole.
2) Sepals, 2.2-3.2 mm, green to brownish-violet or dark blue (never blue tipped),
with a hyaline margin.
3) Petals, 3.5-6.0 obovate to spathulate, non-contiguous; nectaries lunate.
4) Stamens, 7-14;
a) anthers, 0.61.0 mm.
5) Receptacle globose.
a) pollination, chasmogamous.
Fruit:-
1) Achenes, 18-34, 1.2-1.5(-1.8) mm, with low transverse ridges, hispid, unwinged.
Key features:-
1) Leaves, globose or obconical, divided 4; times; terminal segments divergent.
2) Receptacle, globose in fruit.
3) Achenes, obovate, 1.2-1.5( -1.8) mm long, rarely more, hispid, unwinged.
4) Pedicels, 12-40 mm in fruit, shorter than or equalling the opposite petiole.
Habitat:- Slow-flowing streams, ditches and seasonal freshwater pools. 0-1300 m.
Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. - Widespread in the N-temperate
areas. Limited distribution on Crete owing to lack of suitable wet habitats.
Flowering time:- Mid-March to June, occasionally later.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
RANUNCULUS RIONII Back to Top
Homotypic Synonyms:-Batrachium rionii, Batrachium trichophyllum subsp. rionii
Meaning:- Rionii (L) Possibly "Rioni" the main river of western Georgia.
Resembling:- Ranunculus trichophyllus, but differing in the following characters
1) Pedicels, longer than the opposite petiole.
2) Petals, smaller (3.5-4.5 mm).
3) Receptacle, elongate.
4) Achenes, smaller (less than 1 mm), subglobose.
Habitat:- Lakes and seasonal freshwater pools, 0-700 m.
Distribution:- Very scattered throughout Greece, mainly in the NW. - SE Europe and through temperate Asia. Rare on Crete currently known from only one location.
Flowering time:- April-May, occasionally later.
Homotypic Synonyms:-Batrachium rionii, Batrachium trichophyllum subsp. rionii
Meaning:- Rionii (L) Possibly "Rioni" the main river of western Georgia.
Resembling:- Ranunculus trichophyllus, but differing in the following characters
1) Pedicels, longer than the opposite petiole.
2) Petals, smaller (3.5-4.5 mm).
3) Receptacle, elongate.
4) Achenes, smaller (less than 1 mm), subglobose.
Habitat:- Lakes and seasonal freshwater pools, 0-700 m.
Distribution:- Very scattered throughout Greece, mainly in the NW. - SE Europe and through temperate Asia. Rare on Crete currently known from only one location.
Flowering time:- April-May, occasionally later.
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