Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus
Sagebrush buttercup
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus (Sagebrush buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by var. ellipticus by leaf shape and equal bract lobes.
Sagebrush buttercup is a native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and Modoc Plateau in meadows, open woodland, and scrub at elevations of 900 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with glossy, satiny petals. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges from a fibrous root system. Its basal leaves are distinctive, measuring 0.7 to 1.9 centimeters long and 1 to 1.7 centimeters wide, with rounded ovate to obovate shapes featuring three wide, rounded teeth near the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; distinguished from var. ellipticus by leaf shape and equal bract lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, open woodland, scrub
Elevation: 900-2000 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, South Dakota
Bloom period
Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus 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 glaberrimus var. glaberrimus native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus bloom?
Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus belong to?
Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus grow in?
Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus grows in Meadows, open woodland, scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.