Ranunculus orthorhynchus
Bloomer's buttercup
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Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus orthorhynchus (Bloomer's buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family.
Bloomer's buttercup is a California native perennial herb found in montane and subalpine habitats at elevations between 1,500 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces bright yellow flowers 8 to 18 millimeters long with distinctive reflexed sepals. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with erect or decumbent stems, it forms delicate clusters with variable branching. Its basal leaves have complex segments ranging from round to linear, with ultimate leaf segments that can be entire or lightly toothed. The plant's distinctive fruit features a disk-like body with a straight, narrowly lanceolate beak 1.8 to 3.8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Plumas, Tehama, Trinity, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Sierra, Tuolumne, Fresno, Modoc, Humboldt, Butte, Shasta, Tulare, Placer, Glenn, Nevada, El Dorado, Lassen, Mariposa, Napa, Del Norte, San Bernardino, Yuba, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Marin
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 orthorhynchus native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus orthorhynchus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ranunculus orthorhynchus grow?
Ranunculus orthorhynchus occurs in Plumas, Tehama, Trinity, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Sierra, Tuolumne, Fresno and other counties.
What plant family does Ranunculus orthorhynchus belong to?
Ranunculus orthorhynchus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Ranunculus pusillus — Low 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.