XRanunculus glaberrimus - Sagebrush ButtercupX
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Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus), family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
This was not the very first wildflower we saw in 2009 but it is one of the earliest blooming that we saw. There were very few other wildflowers yet in the area. The bloom was captivating with it's lively color and distinctive center. Good thing we didn't handle the plants. They are toxic to the touch. Quote WIKIPEDIA: 'This is a small plant native to interior western North America, from central British Columbia east to southern Saskatchewan, southwest to northeastern California, and southeast to northern New Mexico. It prefers habitat near junipers (Juniperus occidentalis) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in damp ground.' End quote.
USES: Per the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website is this: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Low toxicity if eaten. Minor skin irritation lasting minutes if touched. Symptoms include burning of the mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Skin redness, burning sensation, and blisters following contact with cell sap. Toxic Principle: Protoanemonin, released from the glycoside ranunculin. The toxin in buttercups is unstable and is rendered harmless by drying or boiling the leaves. There are a few records of uses by Native Americanns of these plants: Okanagan-Colville - Poultice of mashed and dampened whole plants applied to pains of any kind. Poultice of mashed and dampened whole plants applied to sore joints. Dried or mashed, fresh whole plant placed on a piece of meat as poisoned bait for coyotes. Thompson - Poultice of mashed flowers used for warts. Flowers or whole plant rubbed on arrow points as a poison. Plant considered a skin irritant.
The number of species in this genus is anywhere from 93 (USDA) to 600 (Wikipedia) with two varieties of glaberrimus; glaberrimus and ellipticus. Our species is a perennial herb.
FunFacts: The name Ranunculus is Late Latin for "little frog". This probably refers to many species being found near water, like frogs. In the interior of the Pacific Northwest of the United States the buttercup is called "Coyote's eyes" - in Nez Perce. In the legend, Coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them again when Eagle snatched them. Unable to see, Coyote made eyes from the buttercup.
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Plant location: Off a roadside along Larimer County Road 80C. Coordinates N-40.55.514 W-105.37.595. The altitude was 8223 feet. April 23, 2009. Found in the following United States: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY. Plant -
Bloom
season: Typically blooming in March and April but sometimes as early as February.Foliage -
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