Ranunculus muricatus L.

Spice Fruit In the field

Family: RANUNCULACEAE

Genus: Ranunculus

Spanish common name: Abrojos a cinco. Abrojos a cuatro.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Humid soils, cultivated soils and disturbed soils.

Characteristics: This Ranunculus can be distinguished from other species living in the same places because of the shape of its fruits; they are large and covered in one millimetre long stings. The flowers are yellow and the leaves are deeply lobulate. Ranunculus arvensis has also stings on the fruits, but they are bigger (2-3 mm). It lives in moist but not boggy soils. It flowers in the first part of spring.