Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius
Plantainleaf buttercup
(c) My-Lan Le, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by My-Lan Le · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius (Plantainleaf buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by largest variety with toothed leaf margins.
Plantainleaf buttercup is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in wet meadows, bogs, and shallow water of streams and ponds at elevations of 1,300 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with broad petals 7 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with robust stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall and 3.5 to 8 millimeters in diameter, it has an upright, sturdy growth habit. Its lanceolate leaves are 6 to 14 centimeters long and 1 to 3 centimeters wide, with finely serrated margins and acute or acuminate bases. Its roots are minimally thickened, allowing it to thrive in consistently moist environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 49 sympatric species; largest variety with toothed leaf margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, bogs, shallow water of streams, ponds
Elevation: 1300-2600 m
California counties: Shasta, Plumas, Modoc, Alpine, El Dorado, Mono, Mendocino, Tehama, Tuolumne, Lassen, Nevada, Siskiyou, Lake, Amador, Placer, Tulare, Sierra, Colusa, Trinity, Butte, Humboldt
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Bloom period
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius blooms May-Jun.
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 alismifolius var. alismifolius native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius bloom?
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius grow?
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius occurs in Shasta, Plumas, Modoc, Alpine, El Dorado, Mono, Mendocino, Tehama and other counties, at elevations of 1300-2600 m.
What plant family does Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius belong to?
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius grow in?
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius grows in Wet meadows, bogs, shallow water of streams, ponds.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. hartwegii — Common water plantain buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. lemmonii — Common water plantain buttercup
- Ranunculus andersonii — Anderson's buttercup
- Ranunculus aquatilis — Whitewater crowfoot
- Ranunculus aquatilis var. aquatilis — Whitewater crowfoot
- Ranunculus aquatilis var. diffusus — Whitewater crowfoot
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.