Ranunculus sceleratus
Cursed buttercup
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus sceleratus (Cursed buttercup) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by . Small petals, lenticular fruits, emergent aquatic habitat.
Cursed buttercup is a native annual herb found in wet habitats, often emerging from muddy areas. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces small yellow flowers approximately 2 to 5 millimeters wide with reflexed sepals. Growing erect and glabrous, it reaches heights of 15 to 50 centimeters with an upright, unbranched form. Its distinctive basal leaves are broadly kidney-shaped, typically 1 to 5 centimeters long, with three-lobed or three-parted segments that have deeply crenate margins and rounded tips. The fruit is tiny, lenticular, with thick corky margins and a minimal deltate beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated. Small petals, lenticular fruits, emergent aquatic habitat
Habitat and range
California counties: Contra Costa, San Diego, Riverside, Lassen, San Bernardino, Modoc, El Dorado, Shasta, San Joaquin, Merced, Tehama, Butte, Inyo, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Nevada, Santa Cruz, Monterey
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 sceleratus native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus sceleratus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ranunculus sceleratus grow?
Ranunculus sceleratus occurs in Contra Costa, San Diego, Riverside, Lassen, San Bernardino, Modoc, El Dorado, Shasta and other counties.
What plant family does Ranunculus sceleratus belong to?
Ranunculus sceleratus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
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.