Ranunculus sp.
Buttercup, Buttercup
(c) Dmitry Kulakov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dmitry Kulakov · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Ranunculus sp. (Buttercup) is a non-native California perennial in the Ranunculaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Ranunculus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Ranunculus sp. belong to?
Ranunculus sp. is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus testiculatus — Tubercled crowfoot
- Ranunculus trilobus — Threelobe buttercup
- Ranunculus uncinatus — Hook seeded buttercup
- Ranunculus acris — Acrid buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius — Alisma leaved buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus — Plantainleaf buttercup
- Thalictrum alpinum — Arctic meadow-rue
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.