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Weyand, Phyllis

Ranunculus occidentalis

Ranunculus occidentalis Nutt.

Western Buttercup

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: RAOC

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

Western Buttercup averages 1 ft. in height, with leaves either smooth or softly hairy. Basal leaves are much lobed and dissected; the stem leaves less so. Five to eight bright yellow petals surround a center of yellow stamens and pistils. The flowers are terminal on the stems.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Stems erect to reclining, up to about 2 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , NV , OR , WA , WY
Canada: AB
Native Distribution: AK, s. through w. WA & OR to CA & NV; extends into s. Yukon
Native Habitat: Variety of moist, well-drained sites

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained soil.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

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

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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