Ranunculus callianthus

Detailed description

Rosettes single or forming compact patches comprising several tightly placed rosettes, appressed to the ground in exposed sites but taller in the shelter of rocks and other vegetation. Lamina 10–28 × 8–26 mm, broad rhomboid, rhomboid or orbicular-deltoid, glossy, coriaceous, stiff, dark green, black-brown on proximal veins and at sinus lobe; 3–(5)-lobed, often to about halfway across lamina, adaxial and abaxial surfaces sparsely to moderately hairy with shaggy, loosely appressed white hairs, hairs up to 1.8 mm long; base cuneate to obtuse; margin crenate or serrate, sparsely to moderately hairy; apex of main and lateral lobes subacute, with white hydathode an abaxial surface. Petioles 10–70 mm long, green, dark-mottled hairs patent and sparse to dense; basal sheath broad, membranous, glabrous to sparsely hairy, entire, margin sometimes sparsely hairy. Peduncle 15–140 mm long, up to 3 mm diameter, spreading to ascending, strongly recurved in fruit; dark green and dark-mottled throughout, hairs moderate to dense, patent, white; bracts usually absent, sometimes or 1–2 simple narrow bracts. Flowers 1–(2), 21–30 mm diam. Sepals 5, 5.5–10.0 × 2.5–4.0 mm, yellow-green, caducous, abaxial surface sparsely to moderately hairy, adaxial surface glabrous, margin translucent, apex obtuse. Petals 5, 11.0–15.0 × 5.0–7.5 mm, obovate-oblong, glossy, yellow with yellow-brown basal blotch above, pale yellow below. Nectary c. 1.0 mm from base of petal; scale c. 1.0 mm long, oblong or broad-oblong, apex bifid. Stamens 28–38; filaments 2.0–4.0 mm long, white; anthers 1.3–1.8 mm long, yellow; receptacle sparsely to moderately hairy; carpels 11–20, 3.0–4.0 mm long. Achenes 11–20, yellow-brown with red to red-black blotches, 4.5–6.5 mm long, ellipsoid, lateral faces compressed; body 3.0–3.5 × 2.0–2.7 mm; beak strongly curved, 1.6–3.0 mm long.