Sagebrush buttercup facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sagebrush buttercup |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ranunculus
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| Species: |
glaberrimus
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The Ranunculus glaberrimus, also known as the sagebrush buttercup, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the buttercup family, called Ranunculaceae. This plant naturally grows in the western parts of North America. You can find it in western Canada, the western United States, and the northwestern Great Plains.
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Where the Sagebrush Buttercup Grows
The sagebrush buttercup lives in many places across western North America. It can be found from central British Columbia in Canada, all the way east to southern Saskatchewan. In the United States, it grows south through the Dakotas to Kansas.
You can also spot it in the Rocky Mountains, stretching southeast to northern New Mexico. It grows west into the Great Basin area and southwest to northeastern California.
Its Favorite Places to Live
This plant likes to grow in damp ground. It often lives in areas where you find juniper trees (like Juniperus occidentalis) and sagebrush plants (like Artemisia tridentata). These are its preferred habitat types.
What the Sagebrush Buttercup Looks Like
The sagebrush buttercup is a herbaceous perennial plant. This means it's a plant that doesn't have a woody stem and lives for more than two years. It usually grows to be about 4 to 15 centimeters (about 1.5 to 6 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves at the bottom of the plant are a bit thick and oval-shaped. They have long stems called petioles. Some leaves are smooth all around, while others have three deep sections or lobes. The leaves higher up on the stem are similar but have shorter petioles.
The flowers of the sagebrush buttercup are bright yellow. Each flower has five to ten petals, and these petals can be up to 1.3 centimeters (about half an inch) long. The flowers have many stamens (the parts that make pollen) and pistils (the parts that make seeds).
Important Safety Note
It's important to know that the sagebrush buttercup can be harmful if eaten. You should never eat this plant. It is known to be unsafe for animals like livestock and could also be unsafe for people.
