Ranunculus parviflorus
Few flowered buttercup
(c) Javier martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Ranunculus parviflorus (Few flowered buttercup) is a non-native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by bristles only on fruit faces, not margins.
Few flowered buttercup is a naturalized annual found in northwestern California and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in roadsides and fields at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white or yellow flowers with 0 to 5 petals measuring just 1 to 2 millimeters wide. Growing 8 to 40 centimeters tall with an erect, non-bulbous habit, it develops basal roots and branching stems. Its basal and lower stem leaves are distinctive, measuring 1.5 to 3.2 centimeters long, semicircular or kidney-shaped, deeply divided into three parts and further lobed with a heart-shaped base. The fruit is a small disk-like body with fine papillae tipped with hooked bristles, each about 1.7 to 2 millimeters across.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 42 sympatric species; bristles only on fruit faces, not margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, fields
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Humboldt, Solano, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Sonoma
Outside California: eastern United States, Australia, native to Europe
Bloom period
Ranunculus parviflorus blooms Apr-Jun.
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 parviflorus native to California?
No. Ranunculus parviflorus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ranunculus parviflorus bloom?
Ranunculus parviflorus blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Ranunculus parviflorus grow?
Ranunculus parviflorus occurs in Humboldt, Solano, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Mendocino, Sonoma, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Ranunculus parviflorus belong to?
Ranunculus parviflorus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus parviflorus grow in?
Ranunculus parviflorus grows in Roadsides, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.