Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_5472.JPG-05-16-2023
Flower name (scientific): Ranunculus fascicularis Muhlenberg ex J. M. Bigelow PY: 1814. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ra-NUN-ku-lus fah-sik-ew-LAIR-ee-uh
Flower name (common): Early 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: From the Latin fasciculus meaning bundle-like and arius meaning belonging to or having, referring to the habit, which is clustered.
Common name origin: From the early sping bloom time and its membership in the buttercup family.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Solitary
Plant description:
     Size: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is compound and lobed
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, basal ovate to broadly ovate in outline, 3-5-foliolate, leaflets oblanceolate or obovate (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): April to May
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, savannas, woods, dry, semi shade to sun.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): There are a number of Ranunculus species with similar flowers to Ranunculus fascicularis. A useful starting point to differentiate various species of Ranunculus is the bloom time, with R. fascicularis being one of the first buttercups to bloom in early spring. R. hispidus (Swamp Buttercup), also an early spring bloomer, is similar to R. fascicularis. R. fascicularis is generally a smaller plant, about 5 to 12 inches tall, with leaflets typically not sharply pointed, whereas R. hispidus is around 6 to 20 inches tall, and has leaflets usually sharply pointed.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.774037
Longitude: -91.568657
Altitude: 254.90
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CO, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, ON) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU