Ranunculus andersonii
Anderson's buttercup
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus andersonii (Anderson's buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by pink-white petals and inflated fruits.
Anderson's buttercup is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Desert Mountains on dry rocky slopes at elevations of 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pink-white flowers 12 to 18 millimeters wide with distinctive spreading sepals. Growing as a small herb 8 to 18 centimeters tall, it emerges from a short, erect caudex with no rooting at the nodes. Its basal leaves are cordate and complex, featuring 1 to 2 ternate divisions with ultimate leaf segments that are elliptic to linear, with entire or slightly toothed margins. The fruit has an inflated, papery wall with strong longitudinal veins and a very short deltate beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; pink-white petals and inflated fruits are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocky slopes
Elevation: 1000-2500 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, Modoc, Plumas, Lassen, Nevada, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Utah
Bloom period
Ranunculus andersonii blooms Mar-May.
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 andersonii native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus andersonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus andersonii bloom?
Ranunculus andersonii blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Ranunculus andersonii grow?
Ranunculus andersonii occurs in Inyo, Mono, Modoc, Plumas, Lassen, Nevada, Sierra, at elevations of 1000-2500 m.
What plant family does Ranunculus andersonii belong to?
Ranunculus andersonii is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus andersonii grow in?
Ranunculus andersonii grows in dry rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.