Ranunculus alismifolius var. lemmonii

Common water plantain buttercup

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS PPD

Common water plantain buttercup is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau bioregions in mountain meadows at elevations of 1,400 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers 10 to 14 millimeters long with petals 5 to 8 millimeters wide. Growing 7 to 35 centimeters tall with slender stems 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter and fusiform-thickened roots, it forms delicate meadow colonies. Its leaves are distinctively narrowly lanceolate, with blades 3 to 11 centimeters long and approximately 1 centimeter wide, featuring entire margins and acuminate bases. In mountain meadow environments, this buttercup creates subtle yet charming floral displays with its elegant white blooms.

Habitat: Meadows

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 1400-2900 m

Bioregions: n SNH, MP

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.