Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus
Hartweg's buttercup
Photo: parent species Ranunculus canus · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus (Hartweg's buttercup) is a native California perennial in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by many petals and narrow leaf segments.
Hartweg's buttercup is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains (Kern County), Tehachapi, and San Bernardino Mountains in meadow habitats at elevations of 1,000 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 13 to 17 millimeters long. Growing with delicate stems up to 30 centimeters tall, it forms low-spreading clusters in alpine and subalpine meadows. Its leaves feature distinctive lanceolate to lance-oblong segments that are either entire or slightly toothed, with acute or rounded-acute tips. In favorable conditions, this buttercup creates small, bright patches of yellow among mountain grasslands and open meadow environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 33 sympatric species; many petals and narrow leaf segments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows
Elevation: 1000-2300 m
Bloom period
Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus blooms Mar-Aug.
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 canus var. ludovicianus native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus bloom?
Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus blooms Mar-Aug.
What plant family does Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus belong to?
Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus grow in?
Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus grows in Meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus cymbalaria — Alkali buttercup
- Ranunculus eschscholtzii — Eschscholtz's buttercup
- Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. eschscholtzii — Eschscholtz's buttercup
- Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus — Eschscholtz's buttercup
- Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. suksdorfii — Suksdorf's buttercup
- Ranunculus flabellaris — Yellow water buttercup
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.