Wildflowers of the United States

Sagebrush Buttercup, Shiny-leaved Buttercup, Early Buttercup, Elliptical Buttercup - Ranunculus glaberrimus

Family: Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family

Genus Common Name: Buttercup

Native Status: Native

Dicot Perennial Herb Leaves:Basal Leaves:Cauline

Ranunculus glaberrimus - Sagebrush Buttercup, Shiny-leaved Buttercup, Early Buttercup, Elliptical Buttercup.
Ranunculus - Buttercup - is a large genus of over 300 species worldwide, and over 75 in North America. There are Ranunculus species in every state in the United States. The genus name comes from the Latin for little frog, since many species prefer wet environments, as do frogs. Indeed, some Ranunculus are aquatic.

Ranunculus glaberrimus is a plant of the western half of the United States and Canada. There are two varieties, var. glaberrimus, which has narrower distribution and grows in drier areas than var. ellipticus, which not only has a wider distribution, but may grow at higher elevations. The Nlakapamuk native Americans rubbed the flower and plant of Ranunculus glaberrimus on their arrows to poison the tips - like many Ranunculus species, this species is poisonous, particularly to livestock, although the poison is rendered harmless when the plant is dried or boiled. Ranunculus glaberrimus is among the earliest blooming wildflowers in its range.

Found in:
AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY

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Distribution of Ranunculus glaberrimus in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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Site: Gros Ventre Campground, Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, WY Date: 2019-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The flowers of Ranunculus glaberrimus have bright yellow petals - usually 5, but sometimes as many as 10. It may have as few as 5 yellow stamens, although there are usually many. They may also have as many as 250 pistils, although occasionally it may have as few as 4. The flower may be about an inch across.

Site: Gros Ventre Campground, Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, WY Date: 2019-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
Sagebrush Buttercup is a small, low-growing plant, with stems that may be prostrate or ascending. The plant may have 3 or 4 flowers.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Site: Gros Ventre Campground, Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, WY Date: 2019-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The stem (cauline) leaves of Ranunculus glaberrimus may be lanceolate, or deeply 3-lobed.
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Site: Gros Ventre Campground, Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, WY Date: 2019-May-04	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The Ranunculus glaberrimus plant is mostly glabrous, as implied by the species epithet. The basal leaves of Ranunculus glaberrimus var. ellipticus are entire and somewhat elliptic in shape; this is var. ellipticus presented on this page, and the basal leaf is on the far side of the plant in this photo. The basal leaves of var. glaberrimus are somewhat egg-shaped, with three shallow, rounded lobes.
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References used for identification and information:

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Ranunculus glaberrimus initially published on USWildflowers.com 2019-06-18; Updated 2019-06-18

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2025
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer

Code Update 20230302