Ranunculaceae

Abstract

Perennial herbs, often with more or less developed rhizome, sometimes annual or biennial herbs, half-shrubs or lianae. Roots adventitious, sometimes tap root developed. Leaves simple or compound, usually petiolate, exstipulate, rarely stipulate; blades cordate, sometimes truncate or cuneate at the base, variously divided, sometimes undivided, incised, dentate, sometimes entire; petioles mostly sheathy at the base. Inflorescence usually definite, sometimes single-flowered, rarely infinite. Flowers mostly moderately large, bisexual, sometimes unisexual, actinomorphic, sometimes zygomorphic, exclusively hypogynous, principally entomophilous. Sepals 3–6, or more, free, petaloid, sometimes sepaloid, imbricate, sometimes valvate, deciduous, sometimes caducous or persistent. Petals 1–13, free, usually secreting nectar, or absent. Stamens several to numerous, free, centripetally initiated. Carpels numerous to single, free, sometimes connate to various degree. Ovules numerous to single, anatropous, sometimes hemitropous, bitegmic or unitegmic. Fruits aggregated, sometimes simple, follicular, achenial, rarely baccate, sometimes capsulate. Seeds numerous to one in a carpel; endosperm copious; embryo often undifferentiated when shed. Cotyledons usually two, their petioles usually fused downward to various degree, rarely single.