Ranunculaceae

R. arvensis L., Sp. PL 555 (1753). I?: Ross-Craig, Draw. Brit. PL 1: t. 34 (1948). Figure 7, p. 177.
Sparsely adpressed-pilose annual, 5-30 cm, with a subterranean hypocotyl resembling a taproot. Lower leaves trifid, trilobed or trisect; median stem leaves multisect into many linear laciniae. Sepals adpressed. Petals 4-6 mm. Carpels 3-9, in a single scries, less numerous ıhan the stamens. Achenes obovate-orbi-cular, compressed, 4-5 mm, with a transversely flattened margin, sculpturing very diverse, often spiny: disc spines half as long as the 2-(-3) mm marginal ones (d), all spines longer, outer ones c. 4 mm (.6), disc and margin very shortly spiny (c), margin without spines and the disc tuberculate (d), or reticulately ridged (e); beak a lanceolate spine about half as long as achene, rarely as long. Fl. 3-6. Segetal habitats, often in cornfields, s.l.-1850 m.
Described from S. Europe (lib. Linn. 715/65!).
Widespread. A 1(E) Çanakkale: Kilia, Ingoldby 42. A1(A) Çanakkale: Renkoei (Erenköy), Sint. 1883: 322 (a)! A2(E) Istanbul: Halkali to San Stefano. 27 iv 1894, Azn. (d)! A2(A) Istanbul: Çamlica, 12 vi 1904, Am. (c)! A3 Bolu: Bolu to Gerede, c. 1000 m. McNeill 258 (a & d)! A4 Kastamonu: Kastamonu, Manis. 649 (a)! AS Samsun: Alaçam, 150 m, Tobey 252 (a)! A7 Gümüşane: Gümüşane, 1300 m, Stn. & Hend. 8332 (a)! A8 Çoruh: nr. Ardanuç & A9 Kars: nr. Kağizman (Grossheim 4: map 80). B4 Ankara: Ankara, Dikmen valley, Romieux! B5 Kay-seri: Bakir Da. above Kisge, 1400 m, D. 19263 (c)! B6 Sivas: Sivas to Zara road, 1500 m, Stn. & Hend. 5330 (d)! B7 Elaziğ: Elaziğ to Kale, 22 miles from Elaziğ, 1300 m, D. 2S932 (b)! B9 Bitlis: Tatvan, 1750 m. D. 22204b (6)! C2 Denizli: Tavaş to Denizli, 800-900 m, Dudley, D. 35563 (a)! C3 Antalya: Antalya, Teng-wall 236 (a)! C4 Konya: Konya to Çumra, Helbaek 2414 (a)! C5 lçel: Kuyuluk, 10 km W of Mersin, 2 m, D. 26521 (c)! Cß Gaziantep: Nisib to Birecik, 450 m, D. 27915 (b)! C7 Diyarbakir: Siverek, Karaca Da., Sint. 1888: 681 (e)! C8 Mar-din: Mardin, Senar, Sim. 1888:962 (a)! Is.: Khios, Guiol (a)! Lesvos, Rech. 5690; Kos, Fors.-Maj. 609; Rodhos, Ferrini.
Europe, S.W. Asia, N. Africa, Turkestan. In Turkey mainly in areas of Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian vegetation. The species is remarkably variable in the sculpturing of its achenes, this variability being at its maximum in Turkey. Many varieties have been described, but as two or more often occur in the same population and are linked by intermediate states, these are not formally recognised here. An account of the major variants in Turkey is given in the description and letters assigned to them; these are cited in the enumeration of specimens. As elsewhere in its range, form (a) (var. arvensis) is the commonest variant in Turkey. In cultivation the species can be self-pollinated.