Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ranunculus eschscholtzii

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 eschscholtzii (Buttercup)
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Subalpine, alpine. Woodlands, meadows. Summer.
Upper Calico Trail, June 13, 2004.

Ranunculus eschscholtzii and Ranunculus inamoenus can appear to be quite similar. Flowers of R. eschscholtzii are generally larger than and broader than those of R. inamoenus:

R. eschscholtzii flowers usually have 5-8 petals; R. inamoenus usually has 5 petals. Some botanical keys indicate that the styles of R. eschscholtzii are straight and those of R. inamoenus are hooked, but other keys disagree saying that both may be hooked or straight.

In addition to the overall flower size, the leaf shape and elevation the plants are found at are two more of the better characteristics separating the two species: R. eschscholtzii typically has deeply incised basal leaves; R. inamoenus has shallow lobes on its basal leaves. Both plants occur in the upper montane and lower subalpine but only R. eschscholtzii commonly grows higher than this and only R. inamoenus commonly grows lower than this.

R. eschscholtzii's petals overlap each other; the petals of R. inamoenus have gaps between them. R. eschscholtzii is usually about 5 inches tall but can be from 2-9 inches tall; R. inamoenus is usually about eight inches tall but can be from 2-16 inches tall. Both Buttercups grow in small scattered patches or can grow more densely in wet seasons.

Diederich Schlechtendal (1794-1866) named R. eschscholtzii in 1820. Dr. Johann Friedrich Gustav von Eschscholtz (1793-1831) was a German Surgeon and explorer who accompanied Kotzebue on his 1815-1818 and 1823-1826 expeditions around the world. (More biographical information.)