The Ranunculaceae or buttercup family contains about 2500 species in 50-60 genera inhabiting all continents except Antarctica and ranging from sea level to high altitudes, but being concentrated in temperate and cold regions of both hemispheres. It is also called the crowfoot family probably because of the palmately lobed or compound leaves, and it is represented by annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, lianas and aquatic plants. The inflorescences are terminal, and the flowers either solitary or more commonly in racemes or cymes, showy, and radially symmetrical, although in some genera they are zygomorphic. The perianth consists of one or two whorls that are often not clearly differentiated into calyx and corolla. Some family members are used in herbal medicines. The largest genera are Ranunculus (600 sp.), Delphinium (365), Thalictrum (330) and Clematis (325).