Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ranunculales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ranunculaceae
Genus
Ranunculus L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Ranunculus sericophyllus Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 6 (1864)
Synonymy:
  • = Ranunculus sericophyllus var. simpsonii G.Simpson & J.S.Thomson, Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 72: 22 (1942)
Vernacular Name(s):
silky alpine buttercup
 Description

Tufted perennial, 5–20 cm tall; rhizome stout. Lvs broadly ovate, deeply 2-ternatifid, fleshy, with silky hairs or rarely glabrous, 3–15 cm long; ultimate lobes linear-lanceolate, acute. Scapes 1–(2)-flowered, erect, with silky hairs. Fls 3–5 cm diam. Sepals spreading, with silky hairs. Petals 5–8, yellow, broadly obovate; nectaries 3, 2–3 mm from petal base, linear, naked. Receptacle glabrous. Achenes many, turgid, glabrous; body 1.5–2 mm long; beak straight, 1.5–2.5 mm long.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.; Fruiting: Jan.–Mar.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Fisher, F.J.F. 1965: The alpine Ranunculi of New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 165: 1–192.
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1990: Typification of Ranunculus names in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 28: 115–123.
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.
Simpson, G.; Thomson, J.S. 1942: Notes on some New Zealand plants and descriptions of new species (No. 2). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 72: 21–40.
Simpson, G.; Thomson, J.S. 1943: Notes on some New Zealand plants and descriptions of new species. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 73: 155–171. [as Ranunculus sericophyllus var. simpsonii G.Simpson & J.S.Thomson]