Ranunculus acris
Acrid buttercup
(c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Cahen · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Ranunculus acris (Acrid buttercup) is a non-native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family.
Acrid buttercup is a naturalized perennial herb found in northern Coast Ranges and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations below 1,500 meters in disturbed areas. Flowering in July, this plant produces bright yellow flowers about 8 to 11 millimeters wide with five distinctive petals. Growing 15 to 45 centimeters tall with erect, generally hairy stems that are few-branched above the base, it has a distinctive growth habit. Its basal leaves are deeply divided into 3 to 5 parts, with ultimate leaf segments that are narrowly elliptic to oblong, featuring acute or rounded tips and toothed edges. The fruits are small disk-like bodies about 2 to 3 millimeters wide, topped with a short, awl-shaped beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 39 sympatric species; non-native status and habitat are key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: worldwide, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Ranunculus acris blooms Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Lasthenia: Ranunculus has separate petals around a central disk; Lasthenia has many tiny ray flowers around a disk (composite head).; vs Bowlesia: Ranunculus has glossy yellow petals in conspicuous flowers; Bowlesia has tiny white flowers in umbels with divided leaves.; vs Potentilla: Ranunculus has nectaries at petal bases and many pistils; Potentilla has no nectaries and styles attached to ovary sides.; vs Papaver: Ranunculus has 5 petals and many pistils; Papaver has 4 crinkled petals and a single large stigma disk.; vs Oxalis: Ranunculus has glossy separate petals; Oxalis has clover-like leaves and tubular flowers that close at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ranunculus acris native to California?
No. Ranunculus acris is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ranunculus acris bloom?
Ranunculus acris blooms Jul.
What plant family does Ranunculus acris belong to?
Ranunculus acris is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus acris grow in?
Ranunculus acris grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus alismifolius — Alisma leaved buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus — Plantainleaf buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius — Plantainleaf buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. hartwegii — Common water plantain buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. lemmonii — Common water plantain buttercup
- Ranunculus andersonii — Anderson's buttercup
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.