Ranunculus laxicaulis (Torrey & A. Gray) Darby. Subgenus: Auricomus. Section: Flammula. Common name: Coastal Plain Spearwort, Mississippi Buttercup. Phenology: Apr-Sep. Habitat: Marshes, swamps, tidal cypress swamps. Distribution: DE south to sw. GA, Panhandle FL (L. Anderson, pers.comm., 2021), west to e. TX, inland in the interior to w. TN, s. IN, s. IL, MO, and KS, almost entirely on the southeastern Coastal Plain.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: R. subcordatus E.O. Beal, allegedly endemic to NC, is conspecific with R. laxicaulis.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, F, Fl2, FNA3, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo3, NS, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3; > Ranunculus laxicaulis (Torr. & A.Gray) Darby — GW2, Keener (1976); > Ranunculus mississippiensis Small — S; > Ranunculus subcordatus E.O.Beal — GW2, Keener (1976); ? Ranunculus texensis Engelm. — C; Ranunculus flammula Linnaeus var. laxicaulis Torrey & A. Gray. Basionym: Ranunculus flammula L. var. laxicaulis Torr. & A.Gray 1838
Links to other floras: = Ranunculus laxicaulis - FNA3
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Weakly erect to reclining annual of marshes, pond edges, swamps and ditches.
Stems: Stems slender, sometimes reclining and rooting at lower nodes, much branched, hairy becoming smooth.
Leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate, oval to oblong (basal) or linear-elliptic to lance-shaped (stem), to 2 in. long, entire or finely toothed.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks from upper leaf axils; yellow; consisting of 5 (sometimes more) clawed petals, 4-5 spreading (or reflexed) sepals that are shorter and rough-hairy on the outside, and a center of multiple yellow stamens around a green, compound ovary.
Fruits: Fruit a thimble-like cluster of tiny, oval achenes.
Comments:
Height: 6-20 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Weakly erect to reclining annual of marshes, pond edges, swamps and ditches.
stems: Stems slender, sometimes reclining and rooting at lower nodes, much branched, hairy becoming smooth.
leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate, oval to oblong (basal) or linear-elliptic to lance-shaped (stem), to 2 in. long, entire or finely toothed.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks from upper leaf axils; yellow; consisting of 5 (sometimes more) clawed petals, 4-5 spreading (or reflexed) sepals that are shorter and rough-hairy on the outside, and a center of multiple yellow stamens around a green, compound ovary.
fruits: Fruit a thimble-like cluster of tiny, oval achenes.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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