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