Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ranunculales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ranunculaceae
Genus
Ranunculus L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Ranunculus subscaposus Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part I, 5 (1844)
Synonymy:
  • = Ranunculus aucklandicus A.Gray, U.S. Explor. Exped., Phan. 8 (1854)
  • = Ranunculus hectorii Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 16 (1899)
  • = Ranunculus subantarcticus subsp. campbellensis F.J.F.Fisher & Hair, New Zealand J. Bot. 1: 334 (1963)
  • = Ranunculus subantarcticus F.J.F.Fisher & Hair, New Zealand J. Bot. 1: 332 (1963)
 Description

Tufted perennial; rhizome 0; stem up to 30 cm tall at fruiting, with appressed hairs. Basal lvs long-petiolate, ternate or ternatifid, triangular-ovate, 1–4 cm diam., with appressed hairs; leaflets and lobes again 3-lobed, toothed. Cauline lvs similar to basal, opposite, smaller. Fls 1–3 per stem, 15–20 mm diam.; pedicels elongating at fruiting, with short appressed hairs. Sepals spreading, with appressed hairs. Petals 5, brownish yellow, narrowly obovate, with sparse appressed hairs on back; nectary single, c. 2 mm from petal base, covered by a small rounded scale. Receptacle hairy. Achenes very numerous, flattened, usually with a few appressed hairs on angles; body 2–2.5 mm long; beak straight, tapering, flattened, c. 1 mm long.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Jan.; Fruiting: Jan.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Gosden, J.; Courtney, S.P.; Fergus, A.J.; Barkla, J.W.; Beadel, S.M.; Champion, P.D., Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Makan, T.; Michel, P. 2024: Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 43. [Naturally uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
Fisher, F.J.F.; Hair, J. B. 1963: The Ranunculi of the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand. Part1: Distribution and Taxonomy. New Zealand Journal of Botany 1: 325–335.
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1990: Typification of Ranunculus names in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 28: 115–123.
Gray, A. 1854: United States Exploring Expedition. During the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Under the Command of Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. vol. XV. Botany. Phanerogamia by Asa Gray with a Folia Atlas of 100 Plates. Part 1. Philadelphia.
Hooker, J.D. 1844–1845: The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. I. Flora Antarctica. Part I. Botany of Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell’s Island. Reeve, Brothers, London.
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.