Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ranunculales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ranunculaceae
Genus
Ranunculus L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Ranunculus ternatifolius Kirk, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 10 (app.): appendix, p. 29 (1878)
Synonymy:
  • = Ranunculus trilobatus Kirk, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 9: 547 (1877) nom. illeg., non Ranunculus trilobatus Schltdl. 1820
 Description

Perennial; rosettes tufted on slender arching stolons. Lvs (1)–2-ternate; leaflets long-stalked, entire or ternatifid, membranous, sparsely hairy, (1)–2–5–(10) mm diam. Fls solitary, 3–4 mm diam.; pedicels very short, sparsely hairy, lf-opposed on stolons. Sepals spreading, hairy. Petals 5, yellow, lanceolate or narrow-obovate; nectary single, c. 1 mm from petal base, covered by a small rounded scale. Receptacle hairy, sometimes only sparsely. Achenes 5–15–(20), somewhat flattened, glabrous; body 1.5–2 mm long; beak curved, 0.5 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.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Nationally Vulnerable]
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. [Nationally Vulnerable]
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1990: Typification of Ranunculus names in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 28: 115–123.
Kirk, T. 1877: Descriptions of new plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 9: 547–552.
Kirk, T. 1878: An enumeration of recent additions to the New Zealand Flora, with critical and geographical notes. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 10 (app.): xlxviii–xlv.