Ranunculus sessiliflorus var. sessiliflorus

Family Ranunculaceae

Buttercup

Short lived ephemeral herb, with flowering stems to 20 cm long. Longevity to 4 months.

Flowers: Tiny, pale yellow, autumn - spring.

Fruit: Head of achenes, September–October.

Seed: 2 mm long, pale brown.  Locally dispersed, possibly in mud on hoofs etc. Strong dormancy, soil stored seedbank. Good germination following drought breaking rain.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Woodland habitat in semi shade to full sun.
• Periods of episodic recruitment  in woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden during suitable seasons.
• Local seedling densities may be very high.
• There may be several years between seasons.
• Plants may seed readily even at high densities.
• Inadequate rainfall events may stimulate germination but seedlings may fail to reach maturity, depleting the soil stored seedbank.