Ranunculus recurvatus Poir.

Nomenclature and Classification

Ranunculus recurvatus Poir., commonly known as blisterwort or hooked crowfoot, is a plant species in the genus Ranunculus of the family Ranunculaceae.

Distribution and Habitat

It is native to eastern North America, where it grows as an early-flowering plant in moist deciduous woods, ranging from central Quebec south to Florida.

Growth Form and Height

This is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows to around 1 to 2 feet tall.

Stem and Leaf Arrangement

It produces some basal leaves, along with branched stems that bear alternate leaves and flowers.

Basal Leaf Dimensions and Petioles

Basal leaves can reach up to 5 inches in both length and width, and have long hairy petioles.

Basal Leaf Lobing

Each basal leaf is palmately cleft into 3 to 5 lobes, and these primary lobes are often further divided into smaller secondary lobes.

Alternate Leaf Variation

Alternate leaves have a similar structure to basal leaves, but decrease in size and have shorter petioles as they grow higher up the stems.

Upper Leaf Characteristics

Upper leaves are more slender and divided into fewer lobes.

Leaf Margins

Leaf margins are either crenate or dentate.

Leaf Surface Features

The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green and glabrous.

Stem Characteristics

Stems are light green, terete, covered with long hairs, and grow in an erect to ascending form rather than sprawling along the ground.