The genus ''Myosurus'', or mousetail, belongs to the

buttercup ''Ranunculus'' is a large genus of about almost 1700 to more than 1800 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus are known as buttercups, spearworts and water crowfoots. The genus is distributed in Europe ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

(Ranunculaceae). It comprises about 15 species of annual scapose herbs. These herbs are nearly cosmopolitan (lacking in eastern

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...

and tropical regions), with a center of diversity in western North America. The flowers are easily recognised by bearing 6

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s with numerous

ovaries The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the bod ...

on a stalk (accounting for the name "mousetail"). Selected species: *'' Myosurus apetalus'' - bristly mousetail *'' Myosurus cupulatus'' - Arizona mousetail *'' Myosurus minimus'' - tiny mousetail *'' Myosurus nitidus'' - western mousetail *'' Myosurus sessilis'' - vernal pool mousetail

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA: North American Species
Ranunculaceae Ranunculaceae genera {{Ranunculales-stub