Species

Ranunculus ternatifolius

Etymology

Ranunculus: From the Latin 'rana' frog, meaning little frog and probably refers to the plants typical marshy habit where frogs abound

Common Name(s)

None known

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, EF, Sp

Authority

Ranunculus ternatifolius Kirk

Family

Ranunculaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

RANTER

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Ranunculus trilobatus Kirk non Kit. ex Schlecht.

Distribution

Endemic. North and South Islands. Known from two sites in the North Island (Erua, Makirikiri Tarns). In the South known from N.W. Nelson, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

Habitat

Damp sites in forest, scrub and tussock grassland. Often associated with base-rich rocks and substrates.

Features

Diminutive, tufted, perennial stoloniferous herb forming diffuse to dense colonies. Leaves (1)-2-ternate, leaflets 91-)2-5(-10) mm diam., long-stalked, entire or ternatifid, sparsely hairy. Flowers leaf-opposed, solitary, 3-4 mm diam., produced from stolons. Pedicels very short, sparsely hairy. Sepals spreading, hairy. Petals 5, yellow, lanceolate or narrow-obovate; nectary single, 1 mm from petal base. covered by small, round scale. receptacle hairy. Achenes (seeds) 5-15(-20), flattened, glabrous, beak curved, 0.5 mm long.

Similar Taxa

None

Flowering

October to January (but sporadic flowering may occur throughout the year)

Flower Colours

Yellow

Fruiting

November to April

Propagation Technique

Very easily grown from fresh seed and division of mature plants. However, plants are difficult to maintain, and are very prone to sudden collapse and are often afflicted with powdery mildew

Threats

Threatened throughout its range by competition from weeds.

Chromosome No.

2n = 32

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

 

  

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 February 2008. Description based on Webb et al. (1988)

References and further reading

Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ 1988. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch.

This page last updated on 7 May 2014