Ranunculus sabinei R. Br. Ranunculaceae Synonyms: Ranunculus pygmaeus ssp. sabinei (R. Br.) Hultén pro parte
Global Distribution: Northern Asia from Siberia through Russian Far East, Alaska, and Canadian Arctic to Greenland.
Alaska Distribution: Arctic Tundra.
Ecoregions Occupied: Beaufort Coastal Plain (Point Barrow).
Conservation Status: S1 G4; BLM Watch.
Description24, 25, 160
Fruiting heads globose Sepals 4 to 7 mm long, to short-cylindrical; pilose with colorless beaks of achenes 0.4 to hairs 0.6 mm long
Petals nearly the same length as sepals, 5 to 8 mm long, yellow Basal leaves broadly obovate to kidney-shaped, 3- to 5-lobed
1 cm
Illustration by Matthew L. Carlson 259
Ranunculus sabinei
General: Perennial herb from simple, non-fibrous caudex and slender roots, tufted; stems erect or decumbent, 1 to 12 cm tall, sparsely pilose.
Leaves: Basal petioles 26 to 32 mm long; basal leaves somewhat fleshy, broadly obovate to kidney-shaped, 3- to 5-lobed, 9 to 30 mm long, 8 to 34 mm wide; segments undivided, entire with rounded or rounded-obtuse apexes; stem leaves 1 to 2, reduced, more deeply cleft.
Flowers: Flowers 1 to 3; pedicels pilose; sepals 4 to 7 mm long, 2 to 3 mm wide, purple-tinged, pilose with colorless hairs; petals 5 per flower, yellow, 5 to 8 mm long, 3 to 4 mm wide.
Fruits: Fruiting heads globose to short-cylindrical, 6 to 9 mm tall, 4 mm wide; achenes 1.2 to 1.4 mm long, glabrous; beaks straight or curved 0.4 to 0.6 mm long.
1 cm
ALA 38479
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Ranunculus sabinei
Ecology
Elevation: Known from near sea level.
Landform: Tundra slopes, hummocks, estuary banks; all occurrences near coast.
Soil Type: Sand, gravel.
Moisture regime: Moist.
Slope: Flat to gently sloped.
Aspect: No particular aspect.
Vegetation type: Often associated with moss turf.168
Longevity: Perennial; short-lived.63
Phenology: Flowering June through mid-July; fruiting early July through August.
Population estimate: There are six known occurrences in Alaska, but it is unknown if all six are still extant; at least two populations are locally uncommon.
Reproductive biology: Probably fly-pollinated.115
Similar Species24, 25, 160
The table below shows the morphological features that distinguish Ranunculus sabinei from other low-growing Ranunculus species with lobed leaves that occur in arctic Alaska, often in similar habitats.
Species Basal Leaves Sepals Petals Achene Beaks 3- to 5-lobed; Pilose with Petals nearly same Ranunculus 0.4 to 0.6 mm lobes undivided, colorless as sepals, 5 to 8 sabinei long entire hairs mm long Sparsely Deeply palmately pubescent Petals shorter than Ranunculus 0.3 to 0.7 mm divided into 3- to with sepals, 1.2 to 3.5 pygmaeus long 5-lobes colorless mm long hairs Sparsely 3-lobed, lobes Petals longer than Ranunculus pubescent 0.6 to 1.8 mm again once sepals, 6 to 12 mm eschscholtzii with pale long divided long yellow hairs Deeply 3-lobed, Densely Petals longer than Ranunculus lateral lobes cleft pubescent 1 to 2 mm sepals, 8 to 11 mm nivalis again halfway to with stiff, long long base brown hairs Round-toothed or Densely shallowly 3- Petals longer than Ranunculus pubescent 0.8 to 1.4 mm lobed with sepals, 8 to 12 mm sulphureus with stiff, long round-toothed long brown hairs lateral lobes Petals nearly same Ranunculus 3-lobed, lobes Glabrous or 0.4 to 0.8 mm as sepals, 3 to 6 grayi again 3-lobed pubescent long mm long
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Ranunculus sabinei
© Forrest Baldwin 1994
© Forrest Baldwin 1994
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