Native Plants

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Ranunculus cardiophyllus

Ranunculus cardiophyllus Hook.

Heartleaf Buttercup, Heart-leaf Buttercup

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Synonym(s): Ranunculus cardiophyllus var. subsagittatus, Ranunculus cardiophyllus var. typicus

USDA Symbol: RACA4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

This buttercup is a hairy, erect-stemmed, freely branched perennial, 6-20 in. tall, with heart-shaped basal leaves and deeply lobed, stem leaves. Yellow, five-petaled flowers occur at branch ends.

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , MT , ND , NM , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: High elevations from Sask. to B.C., s. sporadically to NM & AZ
Native Habitat: Mountain meadows; seepage areas

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Cool, moist soils.

Benefit

Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Low toxicity if eaten. Minor skin irritation lasting minutes if touched. Symptoms include burning of the mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Skin redness, burning sensation, and blisters following contact with cell sap. Toxic Principle: Protoanemonin, released from the glycoside ranunculin. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACW			FACW				FACW

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

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 cardiophyllus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ranunculus cardiophyllus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ranunculus cardiophyllus

Metadata

Record Modified: 0000-00-00
Research By: TWC Staff

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