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

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jim Riley     (Photo ID #28791)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Ceratocephala testiculata
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

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.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

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

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
482 482 482
Slope Gradient (%)
14 14 14

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

181 182 182
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
4 4 4
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
# 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)

Habitat and Range

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

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Ranunculus testiculatus Crantz