Ranunculus californicus

Ranunculus californicus, commonly known as the California buttercup,^[1] is a flowering plant of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is a native of California, where it is common in many habitats, including chaparral and woodlands.

California buttercup
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Ranunculus
Species:	R. californicus
Binomial name
Ranunculus californicus Benth.

California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus) in Sunol Regional Wilderness, northern California.

Its distribution extends across many habitats of California, north into Oregon and south into Baja California.^[2] Its reported locations include the islands between British Columbia and Washington, the Channel Islands of California, and the Sierra Nevada.^[3]

Description

Ranunculus californicus grows up to 70 centimetres (2.3 ft) in height. The bright yellow flower is roughly 1–2 centimetres (0.033–0.066 ft) in diameter and has 7 to 22 shiny, teardrop-shaped petals. Each flower grows on a long, green, leafless stem.

Varieties

• Ranunculus californicus var. californicus ^[4]
• Ranunculus californicus var. cuneatus ^[5]

Cultivation

Ranunculus californicus is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use in native plant gardens.^[6]

See also

• List of California native plants