Ranunculaceae

(ruh-nung-kyoo-LAY-see-ee)
– a family in the Ranunculales order –

Here in the St. Louis Area, we have 24 not-too-obscure plants that are in the Buttercup Family. These plants can be organized into 3 (of 5) distinctive subfamilies:

Ranunculoideae Subfamily (18 species)

• Actaea pachypoda (Doll’s Eyes) [CC8]

• Anemone acutiloba (Sharp-Lobed Hepatica) [CC7]
• Anemone canadensis (Canada Anemone) [CC6]
• Anemone virginiana (Tall Thimbleweed) [CC4]

• Clematis fremontii (Fremont’s Leather-Flower) [CC10]
• Clematis pitcheri (Pitcher’s Leather-Flower) [CC6]
• Clematis terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis) [intro]
• Clematis virginiana (Virgin’s Bower) [CC3]

• Consolida ajacis (Rocket Larkspur) [intro]

• Delphinium carolinianum (Carolina Larkspur) [CC6]
• Delphinium tricorne (Dwarf Larkspur) [CC6]

• Myosurus minimus (Mousetail) [CC0]

• Ranunculus abortivus (Littleleaf Buttercup) [CC1]
• Ranunculus fascicularis (Early Buttercup) [CC5]
• Ranunculus harveyi (Harvey’s Buttercup) [CC7]
• Ranunculus hispidus (Bristly Buttercup) [CC4]
• Ranunculus micranthus (Small-Flowered Buttercup) [CC3]
• Ranunculus recurvatus (Hooked Buttercup) [CC5]

Thalictroideae Subfamily (5 species)

• Aquilegia canadensis (Red Columbine) [CC6]
• Enemion biternatum (False Rue-Anemone) [CC5]
• Thalictrum dasycarpum  (Tall Meadow-Rue / Purple Meadow-Rue) [CC4]
• Thalictrum revolutum (Waxyleaf Meadow-Rue) [CC5]
• Thalictrum thalictroides (Rue-Anemone) [CC5]

Hydrastidoideae Subfamily (1 species)

• Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) [CC6]

[CC] = Coefficient of Conservatism