Ranunculaceae: An Important Family of Flowering Plants

Sanjeet

Members of the Ranunculaceae usually have five colored sepals instead of petals and divided leaves and nonwoody tissue (except clematis). Leaves are usually divided or lobed, but are heart-shaped or narrow and undivided in some species of Ranunculus, and usually arise from the base of the plant, or alternately up the stem, but in Clematis they are opposite. Perennial species form small rhizomes or tubers which develop new roots each year. They are herbs or shrubs with alternate or opposite, usually exstipulate often compound leaves with sheathing petioles. Flowers regular or irregular. Sepals often petaloid. Petals hypogynous, variable, sometimes 0 or reduced or modified into nectarines.

The flowers are actinomorphic or less commonly zygomorphic and are usually bisexual. The perianth is usually in two, often 5-merous cycles that may or may not be differentiated into calyx and corolla. The petals are usually nectariferous near the base, and in Ranunculus there is a flap of tissue in this position.

Typical flowers have many helically disposed stamens and simple pistils on an elongated receptacle. All of the floral parts are distinct. Each pistil has a superior ovary with one locule and 1-several parietal ovules. A single flower commonly produces a cluster of achenes or follicles. Fruit a head of achenes or follicles. Seed albuminous, embryo minute.

Some common Ranunculaceae of India

·        Clematis nutans

·        Clematis wightiana

·        Clematis gouriana

·        Clematis smilacifolia

·        Naravelia zeylanica

·        Thalictrum foliosum

·        Thalictrum javanicum

·        Nigella sativa

·        Ranunculus pensylvanicus

·        Ranunculus sceleratus

Fossil record

Fossils of fruits, pollen, seeds, and leaves are known from several dozen locations. The fossil record begins in the early cretaceous and continues throughout the tertiary. In most cases, the fossils are assigned to extant genera, or show a close relationship to a particular extant genus.

Uses

Some Ranunculaceae are used as herbal medicine because of their alkaloids and glycosides, such as Hydrastis canadensis, whose root is used as a tonic. Many genera are well known as cultivated flowers, such as Acontium (monkshood), Consolida, Delphinium, Helleborus (Christmas rose). The seeds of Nigella sativa are used as a spice in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.



My Research Team at National Seminar on Biodiversity Conservation at SKCG College, Gajapati,Odisha ( From Left , Banani Tripathy, Me and Shanti Prava Behera)