Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis
Western buttercup
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Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis (Western buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by curved beak distinguishes from other varieties.
Western buttercup is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California, and the Modoc Plateau in grassy slopes of meadows and open woodlands at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 5 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with erect to decumbent stems, it develops a robust habit with distinctive foliage. Its basal leaves are three-parted with ultimate leaf segments ranging from oblong to elliptic, lanceolate, or oblanceolate, featuring dentate edges. The small fruits have a curved, lanceolate beak and a glabrous or slightly bristly body measuring 2.6 to 3.6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 56 sympatric species; curved beak distinguishes from other varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy slopes in meadows or open woodland
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Lassen, Tuolumne, Kern, Tulare, Plumas, Modoc, Butte, Shasta, Sierra, Madera, Trinity, Colusa, Nevada, Yuba, Calaveras, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Tehama, Del Norte, Sonoma, Siskiyou, Napa, Solano, El Dorado, Fresno, Marin, Placer, Santa Clara
Outside California: to British Columbia, Nevada
Bloom period
Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis blooms Mar-Jul.
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 occidentalis var. occidentalis native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis bloom?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis grow?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis occurs in Lassen, Tuolumne, Kern, Tulare, Plumas, Modoc, Butte, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis belong to?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis grow in?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis grows in Grassy slopes in meadows or open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus — Western buttercup
- Ranunculus orthorhynchus — Bloomer's buttercup
- Ranunculus orthorhynchus var. bloomeri — Bloomer's beaked buttercup
- Ranunculus orthorhynchus var. orthorhynchus — Straight beaked buttercup
- Ranunculus orthorhynchus var. platyphyllus — Bloomer's buttercup
- Ranunculus parviflorus — Few flowered 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.