Revision of Genus Ranunculus L. (Ranunculaceae) in India

The genus Ranunculus L. in India is taxonomically revised, based on morphological and phytogeographacial patterns. Forty-five taxa (41 species and 4 varieties) of Ranunculus have been recognized, of these, the taxonomic complexicity among the Ranunuculs cantoniensis DC., R. diffusus DC., R. hyperboreus Rottb. and R. pulchellus C.A.Mey. have been resolved in this treatment, and also several taxa were treated as synonymous to these species by the earlier workers, have been segregated either as infra- specific taxa or were merged under the species proper. Efforts have been made to check and study each and every taxon of Ranunculus known from India, represented in all the Indian and European herbaria and from the literature. Sixteen species of Ranunculus show a very meager representation in the herbaria and in the field as well. The present work also includes the lectotypification of eight species (article submitted for publication). A key to the species, nomenclatural citation of each species, their synonyms, details of type, taxonomic description, phenology, distribution in India and worldwide, exsiccata, ecological and taxonomical notes if any, have been provided. Line drawings of the habit and details of each species have been drawn wherever possible, based on the availability of the materials.The distribution of all the species in India has been shown on the maps