Ranunculus asiaticus

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Ranunculus asiaticus
Persian Buttercup 01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species:
R. asiaticus
Binomial name
Ranunculus asiaticus
L.

Ranunculus asiaticus, the Persian buttercup, is a species of buttercup ( Ranunculus ) native to the eastern Mediterranean region, southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe (Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes), and northeastern Africa. [1]

Contents

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 45 cm tall, with simple or branched stems. The basal leaves are three-lobed, with leaves higher on the stems more deeply divided; like the stems, they are downy or hairy. The flowers are 3–5 cm in diameter, variably red to pink, yellow, or white, with one to several flowers on each stem. [2]

It is a protected species in some jurisdictions, including Palestine

Cultivation and uses

Double-flowered forms, which are likely hybrids, are a popular ornamental plant in gardens, and widely used in floristry. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including 'Bloomingdale', 'Picotee', 'Pot Dwarf', and 'Superbissima'. The plants can tolerate light frost, but are not hardy at temperatures below -10°C. [2]

'Tecolote' and 'Bloomingdale' are examples of the double-flowered plants. The single-flowered species form is not commercially cultivated on any significant scale. By contrast, the similar-looking Anemone coronaria is widely available in single-flower 'De Caen' hybrid forms. However, as with Ranunculus asiaticus, the species form, which also has red single flowers, is not commercially cultivated.

Recognition

On March 1, 2023, Canada Post, Canada's postal administration, issued a postage stamp depicting Ranunculus asiaticus. The stamp was issued in booklets and rolls and as a souvenir sheet. [3]

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Ranunculus lingua, the greater spearwort, great spearwort, tongue-leaved crowfoot, or water buttercup, is a plant species in the family Ranunculaceae native to temperate areas of Europe, Siberia and through to the western Himalayas. It is a semiaquatic plant that prefers to grow in about 40 cm (16 in) of water in a variety of wetland habitats. A cultivar called 'Grandiflorus', the large-flowered greater spearwort, has 6 cm flowers and is favored by gardeners.

<i>Ranunculus arcticus</i> Species of flowering plant

Ranunculus arcticus, the birdfoot buttercup, is a species of buttercup in the family Ranunculaceae. It has a circumpolar distribution in Northern Europe, Northern Asia and North America.

References

  1. "Ranunculus asiaticus". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN   0-333-47494-5.
  3. "Ranunculus". Canada Post. 2023-03-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-03.