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Ranunculus pusillus — Details

Low Spearwort learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Distribution

Range Description

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This plant is endemic to the Mediterranean, where it is found in Spain, Sardinia (Italy), Algeria, and Morocco (Euro+Med 2009). It has a very restricted geographical distribution and generally occurs in mountainous regions.

In Morocco, it is known from eight localities (High Imdrhas and Tizi-n-Ouarro in the High Atlas; Itzer, Tazzeka, Timahdit, Azrou and Ifrane in the Middle Atlas; Gada Debdou on the oriental high plateaus). In Algeria, it is present in three localities of the high Tell (Ouach Mountain, Tiaret, Mounts of Tlemcen). In Spain, it is signalled in three provinces in the centre of the country (Ciudad Real, Salamanca, Zamora). In Sardinia, the species is found at only two sites (Arrigoni 2006).

At Mediterranean level, the extent of occurrence is about 800,000 km² and the occupied area does not exceed 400 km².

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Ranunculus pusillus Poir.:
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Choripetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 2. 655 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1704
Keener, C. S. 1992. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/29092
Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/636
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515
Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327
Hickman, J. C. 1993. Jepson Man.: Higher Pl. Calif. i–xvii, 1–1400. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/40453
Munz, P. A. & D. D. Keck. 1959. Cal. Fl. 1–1681. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1717
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, e. 1997. Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. 3: i–xxiii, 1–590. In Fl. N. Amer. Oxford University Press, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/24627
Godfrey, R. K. & J. W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic Wetland Pl. S.E. U.S. Dicot. 933 pp. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1711

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National Distribution

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United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

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Physical Description

Morphology

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In most specimens of Ranunculus pusillus , the heads of achenes are hemispheric to short-ovate and only 2-3 mm. Occasional plants with cylindric heads of achenes 4-6 mm from the Gulf Coast states have been called R . pusillus var. angustifolius .

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Description

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Stems erect or ascending, rooting at most proximal nodes, glabrous. Roots not thickened basally, glabrous. Proximal cauline leaf blades ovate or lanceolate, 1.2-4.2 × 0.5-1.2 cm, base acute to truncate, margins entire or denticulate, apex acuminate to rounded. Inflorescences: bracts linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate. Flowers: receptacle glabrous; sepals 4-5, spreading or reflexed from base, 1.5-3 × 1-1.5 mm, glabrous or sparsely hirsute; petals 1-3, 1.5-2 × 0.5-1 mm; nectary scales glabrous. Heads of achenes hemispheric to cylindric, 2-8 × 2-3 mm; achenes 1-1.2 × 0.6-0.8 mm, ± tuberculate, glabrous; beak absent or nearly so, to 0.1 mm.

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Diagnostic Description

Synonym

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Ranunculus oblongifolius Elliott; R. pusillus var. angustifolius (Engelmann ex Engelmann & A. Gray) L. D. Benson; R. tener C. Mohr

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology

It is an annual plant (Therophyte) that occurs in small temporary pools that are dry in summer. In Sardinia, it is found in seasonally submerged habitat on basalt at 300 m altitude (Scoppola and Spampinato 2005, Arrigoni 2006). It blooms in spring from March to May.

Systems

Terrestrial
Freshwater

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Habitat & Distribution

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Flowering spring (Apr-Jun). Ditches, ponds, and swamps; 0-300 m; Ala., Ark., Calif., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category

NT

Near Threatened

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2010

Assessor/s

Foggi, B. & Rhazi, L.

Reviewer/s

Grillas, P., García Murillo, P., Bazos, I. & Lansdown, R.

Contributor/s

Justification

Ranunculus batrachioides has an area of occupancy of less than 400 km², but the populations are not severely fragmented and it is found at more than 10 locations. However, the populations as well as the quality and extent of its habitat are declining , mainly due to the effects of agricultural extension, grazing and urbanization. Therefore, the species is assessed as Near Threatened.

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National NatureServe Conservation Status

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United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

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NatureServe Conservation Status

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Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

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Trends

Population

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Population

The size of the populations is not known, but they seem to be fragile and in decline due to the vulnerability of the suitable habitat (i.e., temporary pools). Ranunculus batrachioides is considered very rare in Sardinia, vulnerable in Spain, very rare in Algeria and rare in Morocco. The species has been more abundant in the past in Italy but became very rare following the drainage of its habitat. Now it is found at only one locality in Sardinia (Macomer). It is found in the centre of Spain (Ciudad Real, Badajoz, Zaragoza, Salamanca).

Population Trend

Decreasing

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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats

Drainage, infilling of the habitat, agricultural extension, water pollution, overgrazing and urbanization are the main threats to the habitat of this species.

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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions

The subspecies brachypodus is classified as Vulnerable in the Red List of Spain (Moreno 2008). According to Conti et al. (1997) and Scoppola and Spampinato (2005), the species is classified as Vulnerable in Italy. There are no conservation measures in place in North Africa.

The following actions are recommended:
- Legal protection of the species
- Conservation of the habitat
- Monitoring of the existing localities and search for new ones
- Taxonomic surveys
- To study the biology and the ecology of the species and to estimate the size of the populations
- Monitoring of the population dynamics
- Raising public awareness

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Wikipedia

Ranunculus pusillus

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Ranunculus pusillus is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup genus known by the common name low spearwort. It is native to much of the eastern United States from New York to Florida and west to Texas; it is also known in California. It grows in wet habitat, where it is semi-aquatic growing partially submerged or terrestrially on muddy substrates. It is a perennial herb producing a slender decumbent to erect stem up to half a meter in length. It is generally hairless in texture. Leaves have blades which are lance-shaped to oval and borne on short petioles. The flower has one to three tiny yellow petals no more than 2 millimeters long around a central receptacle with many stamens and pistils. The fruit is an achene borne in a spherical cluster of 18 or more.

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