Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus
Eschscholtz's buttercup
Photo: parent species Ranunculus eschscholtzii · (c) Jessica Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus (Eschscholtz's buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by highest elevation, shallowly lobed leaves.
Eschscholtz's buttercup is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Warner Mountains, and eastern Sierra Nevada in open, rocky alpine slopes and meadows at elevations of 2,700 to 4,300 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flowers with distinctive rounded petals. Growing with a persistent caudex 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters long and multiple leaf bases, it forms compact alpine clusters. Its basal leaves are kidney-shaped, 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters long, with shallow 5 to 9 rounded lobes and a truncate base. The plant's distinctive leaf structure, with laterally lobed segments and a central unlobed middle segment, makes it well-adapted to its high-elevation alpine habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; highest elevation, shallowly lobed leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky alpine slopes, meadows
Elevation: 2700-4300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Tulare, Inyo, Fresno, Mono, Riverside, Calaveras, Modoc, Mariposa, Nevada, Alpine, Tuolumne, Shasta, Amador, Madera
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus blooms Jul-Sep.
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 eschscholtzii var. oxynotus native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus bloom?
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus grow?
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus occurs in San Bernardino, Tulare, Inyo, Fresno, Mono, Riverside, Calaveras, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 2700-4300 m.
What plant family does Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus belong to?
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus grow in?
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus grows in Open, rocky alpine slopes, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. suksdorfii — Suksdorf's buttercup
- Ranunculus flabellaris — Yellow water buttercup
- Ranunculus flammula — Creeping buttercup
- Ranunculus flammula var. flammula — Greater creeping spearwort
- Ranunculus flammula var. ovalis — Greater creeping spearwort
- Ranunculus glaberrimus — Sagebrush buttercup
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.