Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus
Western buttercup
(c) dloarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dloarie · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus (Western buttercup) is a native California perennial in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by narrow petals and high elevation habitat.
Western buttercup is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada Mountains in mountain meadows at elevations of 1,300 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 6 to 8 millimeters long and 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Growing with decumbent stems, it develops distinctive basal leaves that are divided into three parts with oblong to elliptic segments that may be lobed or toothed. Its leaves feature ultimate segments that can be lanceolate or oblanceolate, creating an intricate leaf structure. The fruit has a small curved beak 0.4 to 1.2 millimeters long, with a glabrous body 3 to 3.4 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; narrow petals and high elevation habitat are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows
Elevation: 1300-2500 m
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus blooms May-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. ultramontanus native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus bloom?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus belong to?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus grow in?
Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus grows in Meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Ranunculus populago — Cusick's buttercup
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-01
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.