Ranunculus membranifolius
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Simplified description
Perennial herb. Rosettes of tufted, shallowly lobed hairy leaves on arching hairy stolons.
Flower colours
Yellow
Detailed description
Basal lvs 3-foliolate or rarely 3-lobed, hairy; leaflets shortly stalked, suborbicular to obovate, shallowly 3-lobed, often sparingly toothed, 1-2-(3) cm diam. Cauline lvs similar, smaller, often merely 3-lobed. Fls on ascending, hairy stems or axillary on stolons, few per stem, 4-8 mm diam. Pedicels terete, 2-6 cm long, hairy; hairs usually spreading, rarely subappressed above. Sepals reflexed at flowering, hairy. Petals 5, yellow, narrow-obovate; nectary single, c. 0.5 mm from petal base, covered by a small oblong or triangular scale. Receptacle hairy. Achenes 20-40 in globose heads, pale, moderately flattened, glabrous; body 1.5-2 mm long; beak straight, or curved only at tip, 0.5-1 mm long.
Similar taxa
Ranunculus membranifolius is most similar to R. reflexus, from which it differs in its slender stoloniferous habit, shorter pedicels often with patent hairs, smaller fls and fewer, darker, and broader achenes with straighter beaks. Although the two species often grow together, R. membranifolius is commonest in areas west of the Main Divide in both islands and is not known north of about Taupō.
Distribution
North Island: Mt Egmont, Kaimanawa Range, Ruahine Range, Tararua Range, Rimutaka Range; South Island: Nelson, Westland, Fiordland, occasionally western parts of Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago.
Habitat
Damp places in forest and scrub, up to 1400 m.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
ranunculus: From the Latin ‘rana’ frog, meaning little frog and probably refers to the plants typical marshy habit where frogs abound
NVS code
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.
RANMEM
Chromosome number
2n = 32
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2024 | At Risk – Regionally Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: TL
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Webb C.J., Sykes W.R., and Garnock-Jones P.J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand Volume IV: Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Christchurch.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Melissa Hutchison (June 2021). Distribution, Habitat, Features, and Similar Taxa sections copied from Webb et al. (1988).