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Ranunculus jovis

A. Nels.

Hillside Buttercup

G4Apparently Secure Found in 16 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142854
Element CodePDRAN0L1D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRanunculales
FamilyRanunculaceae
GenusRanunculus
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date1995-07-25
Change Date1995-07-25
Edition Date1995-07-25
Edition AuthorsBroaddus, Lynn (1991), rev. L. Morse (1995)
Rank Reasons
Fairly large range, habitat common.
Range Extent Comments
Southeastern Idaho to Nevada, east to southwestern Montana, Yellowstone National Park, southwestern Wyoming, and adjacent Utah. Regional endemic.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Jove's Buttercup is a glabrous perennial with 1 to several stems that are 4-10 cm tall and arising from a cluster of fleshy, club-shaped roots. The basal leaves are often lacking, but, when present, are 2-3 cm long and have a petiole and a blade that is deeply divided into 3-5 narrow lobes. The stem leaves are clustered together and are longer than the basal leaves. The yellow flowers are solitary on the ends of stalks that are 2-6 cm long. The 5 separate petals are narrowly lance-shaped and 7-12 mm long. The glabrous sepals fall off shortly after opening. The fruit is an ovoid cluster of 50-200 achenes; these egg-shaped achenes are approximately 1 mm long, slightly compressed, and finely hairy, with a straight, slender beak that is approximately 0.5 mm long.

Diagnostic Characteristics

This species can be distinguished from other buttercups by the clustered, fleshy roots and by the deeply 3-5 parted leaves.

Habitat

Sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen and spruce-fir communities, flowering at the edges of snowbanks (Welsh et al, 1987).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
WyomingS3Yes
IdahoSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
ColoradoS2Yes
UtahSNRYes
NevadaS1Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (16)
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Utah (8)
AreaForestAcres
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
Temple PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest24,081
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
Wyoming (7)
AreaForestAcres
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (3)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  3. Nixon, J. 1993. RANUNCULUS JOVIS A. Nels. in Montana. Unpublished report for the Gallatin National Forest and Montana Natural Heritage Program. 13 pp.