Ranunculus trilobus
Threelobe buttercup
(c) Stephen Thorpe, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Stephen Thorpe · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Ranunculus trilobus (Threelobe buttercup) is a non-native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by tubercled fruits with hooked beak, but species is extirpated.
Threelobe buttercup is a naturalized perennial found in the central Coast Ranges in disturbed agricultural fields at elevations around 10 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces small yellow flowers 4 to 5 millimeters long with reflexed sepals. Growing with erect or decumbent stems, it develops a distinctive leaf structure with compound leaves 5 to 8 centimeters long. Its leaves are cordate-ovate and 1-ternate, with leaflets that are cleft or parted and have dentate edges. The fruit is a disk-like body with a coarsely tubercled wall and a short hooked beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; key features are tubercled fruits with hooked beak, but species is extirpated
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed agricultural field
Elevation: +- 10 m.
Outside California: southeastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Ranunculus trilobus blooms Apr.
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 trilobus native to California?
No. Ranunculus trilobus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ranunculus trilobus bloom?
Ranunculus trilobus blooms Apr.
What plant family does Ranunculus trilobus belong to?
Ranunculus trilobus is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
What habitat does Ranunculus trilobus grow in?
Ranunculus trilobus grows in Disturbed agricultural field.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ranunculus uncinatus — Hook seeded buttercup
- Ranunculus acris — Acrid buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius — Alisma leaved buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus — Plantainleaf buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius — Plantainleaf buttercup
- Ranunculus alismifolius var. hartwegii — Common water plantain buttercup
- Thalictrum alpinum — Arctic meadow-rue
- Thalictrum fendleri — Fendler's meadow rue
- Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri — Fendler's meadow rue
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.