Caltha natans

Caltha natans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Caltha
Species: C. natans
Binomial name
Caltha natans
Pall. ex Georgi
Synonyms [1]

C. baicalensis, C. pusilla, Tacla ficarioides, Thacla natans

Caltha natans is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family.

Description

Unlike other species of Caltha that are found in North America, C. natans shows relatively little morphological variation, and has not been divided into infraspecific taxa. The plants typically grow in shallow water, with floating leaves up to 25 millimetres (0.98 in) wide and 50 mm (2.0 in) long,[2] on a petiole (leaf stalk) up to 70 mm (2.8 in) long.[3] The flowers are roughly 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter and have five white sepals; they are produced in late spring (June–August).[2] Each flower forms 20–55 follicles, which contain black, elliptic seeds 0.5–0.8 mm (0.020–0.031 in) in diameter.[2][3]

Distribution

Caltha natans has an amphi-Beringian distribution, being found in both North America and East Asia. In Asia, it is found in Siberia, Mongolia and the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Nei Mongol.[3] In North America, it is found in Alaska, the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, North West Territories, Yukon, Saskatchewan Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, and in a small part of the contiguous United States (in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin).[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Caltha natans". The Plantlist. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bruce A. Ford (1997). "Caltha Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 558. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 244, 1754". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Flora of North America. 3. Oxford University Press. pp. 187–189. ISBN 9780195112467. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Li Liangqian & Michio Tamura. "Caltha Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 558. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 244; 1754". Caryophyllaceae through Lardizabalaceae. Flora of China. 6. pp. 135–136. ISBN 1-930723-05-9. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
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