Ranunculus sardous Crantz

Annual; roots all fibrous. Stems stout, erect, hairy, 20–45 cm tall. Basal lvs deltoid, distinctly ternate, (2)–3–5–(8) × (2)–3–5–(8) cm; leaflets cuneate, (2)–3-lobed, toothed, hairy; middle leaflet distinctly stipitate and deeply 3-fid; petioles hairy, 6–15–(25) cm long. Cauline lvs similar to basal, but with narrower leaflets, becoming smaller. Fls (1)–6–15–(20) per stem, (12)–15–25 mm diam. Pedicels erect, hairy, sulcate, 3–6 cm long at fruiting. Sepals 5, hairy, deflexed at flowering, acute, c. 5 mm long. Petals 5, pale yellow, obovate, 8–10 × 6–7 mm; nectary single, basal, covered by an obtuse scale. Receptacle hairy. Achenes 30–40, glabrous, strongly flattened, distinctly bordered, broadly obovate to suborbicular; body 2–2.5 × 2–2.5 mm; face bluntly tuberculate near margin; beak curving upward, c. 0.5 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Oct.)–Nov.–Feb.–(Mar.); Fruiting: (Oct.)–Nov.–Feb.–(Mar.)