RANUNCULACEAE The Buttercup or Crowsfoot Family Exceptions to the Typical Pattern

 
 

Clematis:  Clematis, although having a typical actinomorphic perianth of many petaloid sepals, are often woody vines, with opposite, compound leaves.  They may also be dioecious. 

 

Delphinium or Larkspur (Delphinium spp.):  The perianth is zygomorphic and consists of 4-5 petaloid, spurred sepals; and 4-5 vestigial petals. 
 

 

Columbine (Aquilegia):  Columbines also have 5-spurred sepals, but are actinomorphic. 
 
 

Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella): Nigella has the carpels fused, and the fruit is a capsule.
 
 

Thalictrum (Meadow-Rue):  These flowers are greatly reduced for wind-pollination.  The perianth is reduced to inconspicuous sepals.  The many stamens are large and pendent.  In addition, many species are unisexual, either monoecious or dioecious.  The leaves are compound.

Baneberry (Actaea):  The fruits are berries.
 
 
 

 

 

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Site created and maintained by Matthew Willmann and Melissa Luckow Cornell University, Ithaca, New York September 1998