Ranunculus flammula
Creeping buttercup
(c) Timothy McNitt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Timothy McNitt · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus flammula (Creeping buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family.
Creeping buttercup is a California native perennial found in wetland and riparian habitats, typically growing in moist areas from low to mid-elevation ranges. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with 5 to 6 delicate petals approximately 1 to 4 millimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall that readily root at the nodes, it spreads in low, creeping formations across damp ground. Its leaves have narrow, pointed bases with entire or minutely serrated margins, arranged alternately along the stem and tapering to acute tips. The small fruits are lenticular, with smooth thick walls and a tiny straight or curved beak 0.1 to 0.6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Tehama, San Bernardino, Nevada, Tuolumne, Modoc, Butte, El Dorado, Lassen, Amador, Mariposa, Mono, Del Norte, Lake, Plumas, Siskiyou, Placer, Fresno, Marin, Shasta, Tulare, Sierra
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 flammula native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus flammula is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ranunculus flammula grow?
Ranunculus flammula occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, Tehama, San Bernardino, Nevada, Tuolumne, Modoc, Butte and other counties.
What plant family does Ranunculus flammula belong to?
Ranunculus flammula is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus flammula var. flammula — Greater creeping spearwort
- Ranunculus flammula var. ovalis — Greater creeping spearwort
- Ranunculus glaberrimus — Sagebrush buttercup
- Ranunculus glaberrimus var. ellipticus — Elliptical buttercup
- Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus — Sagebrush buttercup
- Ranunculus gormanii — Gorman's 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.