Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ranunculus alismifolius and glaberrimus

Because of the shape of Ranunculus flowers, bees do not pollinate them very well, but the bees do leave an abundance of pollen on the glossy petals. Dew and rain slide off the slick, shiny surface carrying the pollen to the stigmas below to fertilize them. Very clever.

The species of Ranunculus that grow in the Four Corners area are a bit difficult to tell apart; look first at the leaf shape and the height of the plant. Flower size, color, and shape are very similar and are difficult to use in distinguishing among species.

The Ranunculaceae name is ancient and probably is derived from the Latin "rana", meaning "frog" or "tadpole". Most likely the name was applied because frogs and some Ranunculaceae prefer the same moist habitat -- or the name might refer to some long forgotten perceived relationship in size, shape, smell, etc. Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.

Ranunculus alismifolius (Buttercup)
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

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.

Ranunculus alismifolius (Buttercup)
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

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".

Ranunculus glaberrimus (Buttercup)
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Montane, subalpine. Meadows, wetlands. Spring, summer.
Dolores River Canyon Overlook, April 30, 2008.

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.

Despite these differences, the two species have a great overall similarity and are easily thought to be just one species.

Ranunculus glaberrimus (Buttercup)
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

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)