Western Buttercup, Ranunculus occidentalis

5-6 very glossy yellow petals, 5-26 mm. Five sepals, reflexed 2-3 mm from the base. Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise	Western Buttercup Ranunculus occidentalis According to Jepson eFlora this species occurs mainly in Northern CA, so these specimens appear to be at the southern limit of its distribution. It is a 10-60 cm. hairy perennial. The fruit is disk-like, smooth, but with a straight, not curved beak. Native to western United States and Canada Back to Ranunculaceae of Orange County, California Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
Vic. Elsinore Peak, 3-5-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.	S. Main Divide to Elsinore Pk, 3-17-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise	Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise	Leaves much like those of R. californicus, deeply parted or compound. Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise	Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise	Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise
Vic. Elsinore Peak at S Main Divide, 4-2-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Main Divide S , from Hwy 74 to Elsinore Pk, 4-18-10. © Ron Vanderhoff.