Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Spring, summer.
Cross Mountain Tail, July 13, 2005.

Ranunculus alismifolius is an abundant Buttercup, especially in moist subalpine meadows.  Leaves are long, broadest in the center and tapered at both ends and the plant is often broader than tall.  Like so many other Buttercups, Ranunculus alismifolius flowers are small and only attract oohs and ahhs when they are found in large colonies (click to see) or when you look at their flowers with a hand lens.  

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Spring, summer.
Echo Basin Loop Road, June 7, 2004.

Charles Geyer named this species in 1849.  "Alismifolius" means "with Plantain-like leaves".

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Spring, summer.
Dolores River Canyon Overlook, April 30, 2008 and southwest of Lone Cone, May 7, 2010.

Compare the plants in the photos at left and below with the photos above of R. alismifolius. The two species can easily fool you; they certainly fooled me.  A careful look will show at least four major differences: 

R. glaberrimus leaf petioles are much shorter and although the basal leaves are quite similar in the two species, the cauline (stem) leaves of R. glaberrimus are often deeply cut in three parts (see the last photograph on this page).

R. glaberrimus flowers typically have five petals; R. alismifolius flowers often have eight-to-ten (although they may have as few as three).

R. glaberrimus sepals are usually tinged with reds; R. alismifolius sepals are typically green or yellow (but may be tinged with lavender).

R. glaberrimus seed heads are larger and contain 50-80 achenes (seeds); R. alismifolius heads contain 15-45 achenes.

Young plants of the two species are easiest to misidentify.  Mature plants differ considerably in size: R. alismifolius is often twice as tall as R. glaberrimus.

Click to see more Ranunculus alismifolius and Ranunculus glaberrimus.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Spring, summer.
Dolores River Canyon Overlook, April 30, 2008.
Western San Juan National Forest meadow, May 8, 2009.

This species was named by Hooker in 1829 from a specimen collected in 1826 along the Columbia River by David Douglas (of Douglas Fir fame)

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Ranunculus alismifolius

Range map for Ranunculus glaberrimus