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California buttercup facts for kids

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California buttercup
Californiabuttercup.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species:
R. californicus
Binomial name
Ranunculus californicus
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Ranunculus californicus in Sunol Regional Wilderness
California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus) in Sunol Regional Wilderness, northern California.

The California buttercup, also known by its scientific name Ranunculus californicus, is a beautiful yellow flower. It belongs to the buttercup family, called Ranunculaceae. This plant naturally grows in California. You can often find it in many different places there, like chaparral and woodlands, which are types of wild areas.

This buttercup grows across many different natural areas in California. It can also be found north in Oregon and south in Baja California. You might even spot it on the islands between British Columbia and Washington, on the Channel Islands of California, and in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

What Does the California Buttercup Look Like?

The California buttercup can grow quite tall, up to about 70 centimeters (or 2.3 feet) high. Its bright yellow flower is usually 1 to 2 centimeters (about 0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. Each flower has between 7 and 22 shiny petals that look like tiny teardrops. These lovely flowers grow on long, green stems that don't have leaves.

Different Kinds of California Buttercups

Just like some animals have different breeds, plants can have varieties. The California buttercup has two main varieties:

  • Ranunculus californicus var. californicus
  • Ranunculus californicus var. cuneatus

Growing California Buttercups

People sometimes grow the California buttercup in their gardens. It is popular as an ornamental plant, which means it's grown for its beauty. It's especially used in gardens that focus on native plant species.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ranunculus californicus para niños

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