Author | L. | |
Distribution | Coastal Plain, Sandhills, and Piedmont; scarce in the southern Mountains.
Native of Europe; in N.A. in the southeastern states: NJ and MO south to FL and TX. | |
Abundance | Frequent to locally common, except rare in the southwestern Piedmont and southern Mountains. | |
Habitat | Roadsides, fields, clearings, and other disturbed sites. |
Phenology | Flowering and fruiting February-July. | |
Identification | Smallflower Buttercup is one of our shorter Ranunculus species, seldom reaching 8-9 inches tall. It has tiny flowers (less than 1/6-inch across), 0-5 petals, and reflexed sepals. The flowers occur only in leaf axils, on short stalks. The leaves are 3-5 lobed or divided; the plant is spreading-hairy. Seeds have curved spines. The seeds and the axillary flowers together are unique in NC buttercups. | |
Taxonomic Comments | | |
Other Common Name(s) | | |
State Rank | SE | |
Global Rank | GNR | |
State Status | | |
US Status | | |
USACE-agcp | FAC link |
USACE-emp | FAC link |