Colorado Weed Seeds 
45 
11, CROWFOOT FAMILY 
( Ranunculaceae ) 
Fruits either dry pods (follicles), achenes (seed like), or 
berries; seeds with a very small embryo, and hardened endosperm. 
Crowfoot, Buttercup 
( Ranunculus ( Tourn . ) L . ) 
Fruit an acheiie, usually flattened, and either smooth, or bearing? minute, 
round tipped projections or prickles ; fruit usually tipped with a short, curved, 
oi straight point or beak. 
Key to Species 
Seeds swollen or inflated 1..R. sceleratus 
Seeds compressed or flattened 
Beak of seed straight or nearly so 2 . .R. acris 
Beak of seed strongly hooked or curved....- Z..R. bulbosns 
1. Cursed Crowfoot, Celery-leaved or 
Ditch Crowfoot {Ranunculus scelaratus L.) 
(Fig. 68). — Seeds honey-yellow in color, swollen 
or inflated, .5-.7 mm. long, marginless (without 
a distinct annular band around the edge of the 
. ^ ^ seed), beak very short and straight. 
A 3 
Fig. 68. Cursed Crow- 
foot (Ranunculus sceler- 
atus). A. Top view. B. Edge 
view. X 3 4. 
2. Tall or Meadow Buttercup {Ranunculus 
acris L.) (Fig. 69). — Seeds mahogany-red to 
Sudan-brown in color, about 3 mm. long, and 2 
mm. wide, margins distinct, often lighter in color 
than the remainder of the seed ; beak short, 
straight, or nearly so. 
Fig. 70. Bulbous Buttercup 
(Ranunculus bulbosus). A. Top 
view. B. Edge view, x 10. 
Fig. 69. Tall But- 
tercup (Ranunculus 
acris). x 12. 
3. Buimous Buttercup {Ranunculus 
hulhosas L.) (Fig. 70). — Seeds seal-brown 
in color, 2-3.5 mm. long, 1.5-2. 5 mm. wide, 
margins very distinct, usually much lighter 
in color than the remainder of the seed ; beak 
short (shorter than R arris) usually curved 
or strongly hooked. 
