Ranunculus fascicularis
early butter-cup, tufted buttercup, prairie buttercup, early buttercup
Family
Ranunculaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Type
bipinnate, compound, pinnate
Leaf Shape
oblong, ovate
Growth Form
forb
Flower Color
yellow
Flower Month
February - May
Height (meters)
0.1 - 0.3
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Cool season
Wetland Class
FAC
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
6
Animal Use
The following information is for the genus Ranunculus: Animals that eat its seeds: Sora rail, Meadow mouse, Pine mouse. Animals that eat the plant and its seeds: Wood duck, Wild turkey, Muskrat, Cottontail rabbit, Eastern skunk, Fox squirrel, Gray squirrel (Martin et al. 1951).
Natural History
Grows in sandy soils in shallow water, low pinelands, meadows, and prairies throughout Louisiana, except in the coastal parishes, and east Texas. This species ranges throughout eastern North American.
Habitat
Prairies, dry woods, sandy soil, shallow water, low pinelands, seepage slopes, meadows and riparian areas.