Research paper

Volume 10

Ranunculus trilobus Desf. (Ranunculaceae), a newly naturalised species in Aotearoa / New Zealand

Marley Ford, William A. Reinders, Carlos A. Lehnebach

Affiliations:
1 School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec, Private Bag 92025, Victoria St West,
Auckland 1145, New Zealand.
2 Independent researcher, Christchurch, New Zealand.
3 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand.
* Corresponding author: mfor426@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Received: 14 August 2025 | Accepted: 25 September 2025 | Published: 30 November 2025
Senior Editor: Peter de Lange
https://doi.org/10.34074/pibs.01002

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Abstract
The Mediterranean species Ranunculus trilobus Desf. (Ranunculaceae) is reported here for the first time as naturalised in Aotearoa / New Zealand. The new exotic was initially reported on the citizen science network iNaturalist during a COVID-19 lockdown in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland (1 September–15 December 2021). Since then, additional records have been confirmed from other localities in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland and Te Tai Tokerau / Northland. Ranunculus trilobus is illustrated here, and a key is provided to distinguish it from other exotic Ranunculus species present in Aotearoa / New Zealand. This discovery highlights the important role both community science and herbaria can play in biodiversity research, and how COVID-19 lockdowns indirectly contributed to botanical discoveries.

Cite as
Ford, M., Reinders, W. A., Lehnebach, C. A. (2025). Ranunculus trilobus Desf. (Ranunculaceae), a newly naturalised species in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Perspectives in Biosecurity, 10: 10–21. https://doi.org/10.34074/pibs.01002