Ranunculus alismaefolius or alismifolius ?

[Frederick J. Peabody]

Rana in Latin means "frog."  Ranunculus, the diminutive form, means
"little frog."  My presumption is that the generic name Ranunculus was
applied to species of this genus because they grow in similar habitats,
i.e. moist, where frogs can be found.

Frederick J. Peabody
Associate Professor of Botany
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD  57069  USA
fpeabody at sundance.usd.edu

On Wed, 16 Apr 1997, Jerome V Ward wrote:

> Any idea about the origin of the Latin generic name?  Ranaunculus would
> mean little frog I suppose but I can't see the resemblance in R. sp. that
> I know.
> Jerome Ward
>
>