Ranunculus sceleratus L.

Annual; roots all fibrous. Stems stout, erect, glabrous or with sparse appressed hairs, (10)–30–60–(75) cm tall. Basal and lower cauline lvs broadly ovate to reniform, cordate, deeply 3–(5)-lobed, glabrous or with fine appressed hairs, (1)–3–5–(8) × (1.5)–4–6–(10) cm; lobes obovate-cuneate, again shallowly 3-lobed and with crenate margins; petioles glabrous, (2)–5–10–(30) cm long. Upper cauline lvs similar; lobes becoming lanceolate, entire; uppermost lvs subsessile, not lobed, becoming finely appressed-hairy. Fls usually > 30 per stem, 6–10 mm diam. Pedicels erect, numerous, with sparse, fine hairs, sulcate, 2.5–4–(6) cm long at fruiting. Sepals 5, hairy, deflexed, acute, 3–4 mm long. Petals 5, pale yellow, broadly obovate, 3–4 × 2.5 mm; nectary single, 0.5 mm from petal base, pocket-like. Receptacle elongated, cylindric, hairy. Achenes (100)–200–400–(700), in cylindric heads, glabrous, hardly flattened, weakly keeled, obovoid, weakly rugulose; body c. 1 × 0.8 mm; beak < 0.5 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Aug.)–Oct.–Feb.–(May); Fruiting: (Aug.)–Oct.–Feb.–(May)