Western Buttercup
Ranunculus occidentalis

[ra-NUN-ku-lus ock-sih-den-TAY-liss]

FAMILY: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)

DESCRIPTION: {native} Its shiny petals are not a trick of the camera - they really are that shiny. Our Western Buttercup has three-parted leaves, five shiny petals, reflexed sepals, many stamens and many pistils. Its seeds are achenes with tiny hooked beaks, (California Buttercup, Ranunculus californicus, has 9 -16 or more shiny petals.)

HABITAT: Meadows and moist places below 6.500'.

NOTES: Until our buttercups went to seed, we avoided mowing the meadows.