Flower ID: IMG_2977.JPG-07-22-2024 Flower name (scientific): Ranunculus pensylvanicus Linnaeus f. PY: 1782. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ra-NUN-ku-lus pen-sill-VAN-ee-ka Flower name (common): Pennsylvania Buttercup Family name (common): Buttercup Family name (scientific): Ranunculaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Latin for little frog. Referencing the moist habitat where many species grow. Specific epithet: Of or from Pennsylvania. Common name origin: The type used by Linnaeus had its habitat in Pennsylvania, and from the yellow cup-shaped flowers. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (3 to 8 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 8 to 36 inches (20 to 91 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound and lobed Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, basal broadly cordate in outline, 3-foliolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): July to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Perennial Habitat: Stream banks, pond margins, marshes, bogs, wet fields, wet meadows, sun or semi-shade, wet. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Some factors that can help separate Ranunculus pensylvanicus from other buttercups are (1) the small flower size (less than 7 mm), (2) the habitat (wet conditions), (3) the bloom season (mid summer to early fall), (4) the appearance of the seed head (about 9 to 12 mm long with individual seeds having a small beak less than 1 mm long), and (5) the 3-foliolate leaves with leaflets usually deeply cleft. Ranunculus macounii has some similarity, but has a flower size about twice as large, and has not been reported from Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and more southern US states, though prsent in Minnestoa and Michigan. Ethnobotany: The Ojibwe employ the seeds of this plant as a hunting medicine. The seeds are smoked as an aid for hunting. They also utilized the plant to obtain a red dye (Smith, pp. 383, 426, 431, 1932). Latitude: 44.794637 Longitude: -91.495598 Altitude: 239.60 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): OBL Wetland Status (MW): OBL