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Scientific Name | Ranunculus adoneus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RAAD |
Common Name | Snow Buttercup, Alpine Buttercup | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 18584 |
Family | Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Subalpine and alpine (10000 to 14000 ft); wet areas near snow, streams, meadows and tundra.
Plant: Erect perennial 3 to 10 inches tall, single or multiple smooth stems. Leaves: Leaves are deeply lobed into fine, linear segments. Inflorescence: Yellow flowers 1-1/2 inches across with 5 glossy, overlapping petals and about twice as long as the hairy sepals beneath. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains" by Richard W. Scott, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Ranunculus eschscholtzii | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RAES |
Common Name | Subalpine Buttercup, Eschscholtz's buttercup, Largeflower Buttercup | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 18601 |
Family | Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Subalpine and alpine (10000 to 13000); wet areas near snow, streams, in meadows and talus slopes.
Plant: Erect or leaning perennial 2 to 10 inches tall, single or multiple smooth stems. Leaves: Deeply and palmately dissected into 3 to 5 linear to lanceolate lobes that are in turn lobed or toothed; basal leaves are petiolate; stem leaves are sessile. Inflorescence: Yellow flowers 1-1/2 inches across with 5 petals, longer than the purplish, hairy sepals beneath. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains" by Richard W. Scott, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Ranunculus inamoenus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RAIN |
Common Name | Graceful Buttercup | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 18616 |
Family | Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (6000 to 12500 ft); moist areas along ponds, streams, wet slopes.
Plant: Erect perennial 2 to 12 inches tall, single or multiple stems, may be branched. Leaves: Basal leaves on long petioles, round to ovate, narrow at leaf base, some dissected into 3 to 5 lobes; stem leaves are sessile and deeply dissected into 3 to 7 narrow segments. Inflorescence: Small flowers less than an inch across with 5 glossy yellow petals, many yellow stamens and green center. Bloom Period: May to August. References: "The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains" by Richard W. Scott, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |