Ranunculaceae

Mostly perennial non-woody (herbaceous) plants and a few vines, some of which may be woody. Flowers, leaves and other structures in plants in the Buttercup Family are extremely diverse: includes Anemone, Baneberry, Buttercup, Clematis, Columbine, Delphinium, Globeflower, Goldthread, Hepatica, Marsh Marigold, Meadow-rue, and Monkshood.

Flowers usually with all parts free and distinct, usually not with 3 sepals or 3 petals; stamens often numerous, spiralled, carpels 5 to numerous (occasionally only 1), usually separate, and ovary located above point of attachment of other flower parts (superior). Flower arrangement may be solitary or clumped (cymes, panicles or elongated racemes). Petals usually 5 (sometimes none), separate and overlapping, usually producing nectar at their bases, supported on a short to elongated expansion at the top of the stem (receptacle). Stalks of anthers usually separate, pollen producing structures usually opening by 2 longitudinal slits. Sepals 4 to many, separate and overlapping, sometimes petal-like, sometimes small and deciduous, if green then usually 5. Some sepals sterile and modified into nectar-bearing structures. Stigmas often dotted or extending along one side of the style. Flowers usually producing both pollen and seeds. Fruit usually usually an aggregate of achenes or capsules and dry.

Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, whorled, or all basal, ranging from simple and entire, to cleft or compound, sometimes highly divided, often toothed. Stipules usually absent.

A cosmopolitan family well represented in temperate zones and mountainous environments, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Mostly terrestrial, occasionally aquatic. Often contain bitter-tasting chemicals that may act as a drug or toxin on humans and other animals (alkaloids) or may foam up when mixed vigorously in water (saponins). Some species (e.g., Delphinium, Monkshood) are highly poisonous if consumed.