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1 Fruit a follicle or capsular (or fleshy and berrylike in some Actaea). |
..2 Mature leaves > 4 dm wide; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Cimicifugeae] |
..2 Mature leaves < 3 dm wide. |
....3 Leaflets linear; [exotics]. |
......4 Flowers in a raceme, not subtended by an involucre; fruit follicular, each with a 1-2 mm long beak; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Delphineae] |
......4 Flower solitary, subtended by a finely divided involucre; fruit a spherical capsule-like structure composed of 5 or 10 partially connate follicles, each follicle terminated by a linear beak 13-20 mm long; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Nigelleae] |
....3 Leaflets broad, rounded; [mostly natives]. |
........5 Follicles borne on stipes, forming an umbel-like cluster; rhizomes yellow or orange; [subfamily Coptidoideae] |
........5 Follicles sessile; rhizomes brown or tan; [subfamily Thalictroideae]. |
..........6 Follicles 15-31 mm long, with beaks 7-18 mm long |
..........6 Follicles 3.5-6.5 mm long, with beaks 1.5-3 mm long |
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............ 7 Leaves divided into numerous linear segments, all of which are < 1 mm wide. |
............ ..8 Plant aquatic (if leaves divided into numerous linear segments); [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Ranunculeae] |
............ ..8 Plant terrestrial. |
............ ....9 Achenes 3-5 mm long, glabrous, with a persistent beak 0.5-1 mm long; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Adonideae] |
............ ....9 Achenes 1.6-2 mm long, tomentose, with a persistent beak 3.5-4.5 mm long; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Ranunculeae] |
............ 7 Leaf segments rounded or cleft, > 1 mm wide. |
............ ......10 Leaves cauline, opposite; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Anemoneae] |
............ ......10 Leaves basal and/or cauline, cauline leaves (if present) alternate (leaflike involucral bracts sometimes present and opposite or whorled). |
............ ........11 Leaflike involucral bracts present, opposite or whorled. |
............ ..........12 Achenes not ribbed or veined on lateral surfaces; leaf texture moderate to distinctly thick and leathery; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Anemoneae] |
............ ..........12 Achenes conspicuously ribbed or veined on lateral surfaces; leaf texture thin, delicate; [subfamily Thalictroideae] |
............ ........11 Leaflike involucral bracts not present. |
............ ............ 13 Leaflets 3-many, if many the leaflets typically with teeth, or sharp lobes; [subfamily Ranunculoideae, tribe Ranunculeae] |
............ ............ 13 Leaflets many, unlobed or typically with 3-9 rounded lobes; [subfamily Thalictroideae] |