|
Photographer: Merel R. Black
|
Family Ranunculaceae
Ranunculus abortivus L.
little-leaf buttercup, small-flowered buttercup
Ranunculus: from Latin rana, "little frog," because many species tend to grow in moist places
abortivus: from "to abort"
Hazardous 
|
|
| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, biennial/perennial, 8"-20" tall, branched forb |
| Flower: | yellow, 5-parted, 1/4" wide, normally 5 small sepals which are longer and wider than the narrow petals; solitary from the upper leaf axils; blooms April-June |
| Fruit: | dry seeds in a short, oval cluster |
| Leaf: | basal and stem leaves very different; basal leaves mostly kidney to heart shaped; stem leaves usually deeply 3-5 lobed |
| Habitat: | dry to moist; woods, disturbed sites, cliffs |
| (Glossary) |
|
