Journal Article

Morphological Study of two Ranunculus Species in Western Iraq

Assaf, H S, Alkhamisi, F T F, Almehemdi, A F

2026

Overview

A comparative morphological study was applied on Ranunculus muricatus and R. acris from three sites in western Iraq (Fallujah, Hit, and Haditha), two sites not found (Ramadi and Qaim), to assess qualitative and quantitative variation in vegetative and floral traits. Leaf morphology showed strong site-specific variation. In R. muricatus , the largest leaves were recorded in Fallujah (mean length 6.49 cm, width 8.18 cm), intermediate in Haditha (4.9 × 6 cm), and smallest in Hit (2.1 × 2.7 cm). Leaves were deeply lobed with serrated margins in Fallujah but only half-lobed with rounded margins in Haditha and Hit. R. acris leaves in Fallujah averaged 3.36 cm in length and 3.03 cm in width, with sparse trichomes on the abaxial surface. Stem traits also reflected ecological conditions: R. muricatus reached the greatest height in Fallujah (38.1 cm) compared to 30.9 cm in Haditha and 16.5 cm in Hit, while R. acris averaged 23.95 cm in height. Stem diameter of R. muricatus ranged from 3.43 cm in Fallujah to 1 cm in Hit, whereas R. acris averaged 1.57 cm. Stem hairiness was variable, with hairy internodes in Fallujah and glabrous stems in Hit and Haditha. Floral traits were more conserved across sites: sepals remained five in number but varied in size (e.g., R. muricatus sepals averaged 6 mm in Fallujah vs. 1.2 mm in Hit), while petals were consistently ovate and yellow, though dimensions ranged from 7.8 mm in Fallujah to 2.4 mm in Hit. These findings confirm that leaves and stems exhibit high morphological plasticity under differing ecological pressures, whereas floral traits remain relatively stable, reinforcing their diagnostic value for species identification within Ranunculus .

• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Subject: Comparative studies / Ecological conditions / Height / Leaves / Morphology / Ranunculus / Ranunculus muricatus / Sepals / Stems / Trichomes