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Ranunculus californicus
Ranunculus californicus Benth.
California Buttercup
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Synonym(s): Ranunculus californicus var. austromontanus, Ranunculus californicus var. cuneatus, Ranunculus californicus var. gratus, Ranunculus californicus var. rugulosus, Ranunculus californicus var. typicus, Ranunculus rugulosus
USDA Symbol: RACA2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
The California Buttercup is a member of the buttercup family (family Ranunculaceae). Buttercups are usually leafy herbs, sometimes woody vines or shrublike. The family has 35-70 genera and about 2,000 species that occur mostly in cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Several are grown as ornamentals, others provide drugs, and some are poisonous. The family is most likely to be confused with the Rose Family (Rosaceae), from which it is distinguished by the absence of a cup-like base.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Stems erect to prostrate, up to about 2 feet long.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: CA , OR , WACanada: BC
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ranunculus californicus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ranunculus californicus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ranunculus californicus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-07Research By: TWC Staff