About Ranunculus occidentalis Nutt.
Common Name and Classification
Ranunculus occidentalis, commonly known as the western buttercup, is a species of buttercup that grows in western North America.
Geographic Range
Its range stretches from Alaska, through British Columbia and Alberta, all the way south to central California.
Habitat and Elevation
This flower grows in open meadows, forests, and other generally flat areas, and it can be found at elevations up to 2,200 metres (7,200 ft).
Toxicity and Traditional Use
Aleut First Nations may have used juice from this plant as a poison; the plant’s toxicity comes from the compound protoanemonin.
Phenology Observation
Shasta First Nations observed that Ranunculus occidentalis blooms at the same time that summer salmon runs occur.
Traditional Food Use
The seeds of this species were used to make pinole, a traditional staple food.
Similar Species
The western buttercup is similar to the California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), and the two species can sometimes be hard to tell apart.
