Ranunculaceae

A. aestivalis L., Sp. PL ed. 2, 771 (1762).
Plant glabrescent, sparsely villose at base (rarely throughout), 10-50 cm, often widely branched. Leaf laciniae linear. Flowers 10-30 mm across. Sepals pallid, glabrous or sparsely villose outside, spreading. Petals narrowly obovate, deep scarlet, sometimes orange, coppery or even ivory, with a black base. Achenes conferted, 3-5 mm, rugose-reticulate, dorsal keel with a broadly triangular subacute projection (sometimes weakly developed) § the distance from apex to base, transverse crest often prominent and toothed; beak in line with achene axis, or ascending, ± short, green or bluish.
1. Flowers 15-30 mm across, scarlet: achenes 4-5 mm.sculpturing and dorsal projection prominent subsp.aestivalis
1. Flowers (even on luxuriant specimens) 10-15 mm across, usually orange, coppery or even ivory; achenes 3-4 mm, sculpturing and dorsal projection weak subsp. parviflora
subsp. parviflora (Fisch. ex DC.) Busch in Fl. Cauc. Crit. 3(3): 201 (1903). Syn: A. parviflorus Fisch ex DC, Prodr. 1: 24 (1824); A. scrobiculata Boiss., Diagn. ser. 2(1): 6 (1854). Rocky slopes, fields, 900-1200 m.
Type: Ad ripas fluvii Rhymni prope lacum salsum Indersiensem.
Scattered in the E. A9 Çoruh: Ardanuç to Kordevan Da., 900 m, D. 30078! B7 Tunceli: Tunceli to Pülümür, 1000 m, D. 29209! C8 Mardin: Mardin castle, 1200 m, D. 28332!
Transcaucasia, Iran, N. Iraq, Afghanistan, W. Pakistan, C. Asia, often replacing subsp. aestivalis in saline steppe in the eastern part of the species' range. In the herbarium it is easily confused with depauperate specimens of subsp aestivalis.