E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth
hornseed buttercup
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jim Riley  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #28791)

E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Ceratocephala testiculata
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Species Information

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General:
Annual herb from short taproot and cluster of fibrous roots; stems erect or ascending, 2-10 cm tall, soft-hairy; plants densely fuzzy-hairy throughout.
Leaves:
All basal leaves, persistent, long-stalked, broadly spoon-shaped in outline, 1- or 2-times 3-parted, 1-4 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide, the segments linear.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a solitary, terminal flower, the flower stalks 2-8 cm tall, sometimes with a solitary, linear bract on the flower stem; receptacle smooth; petals 5, distinct, pale yellow, 3-5 mm long, 1-3 mm wide, nectary on upper surface, the scale about 1 mm long, smooth; sepals 5, spreading, persistent, greenish, narrowly egg-shaped, 3-6 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, soft-hairy; stamens 10-15; pistils (25) 35-70.
Fruits:
Achenes, numerous in a cylindric head 9-16 mm long, 8-10 mm wide, the achenes egg-shaped, 1.6-2 mm long, 1.8-2 mm wide, densely woolly-hairy; beaks persistent, lanceolate, 3.5-4.5 mm long, straight, dagger-like.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry disturbed clearings and sagebrush slopes in the steppe zone; infrequent in SC and SE BC; introduced from Eurasia.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Ceratocephala testiculata

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 482 482 482
Slope Gradient (%) 14 14 14
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
182 181 182
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
4 4 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
BG
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: BG(1)

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Ranunculus testiculatus Crantz

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References