Description
Heart-leaved Buttercup is a fibrous-rooted perennial with erect, branched stems that are 15-40 cm high. The basal leaves have spade-shaped blades that are 2-6 cm long and toothed margins and petioles that are 2-12 cm long. The few, alternate stem leaves are deeply divided like fingers on a hand. The foliage is covered with straight, spreading hairs. Stalked flowers arise from the axils of the uppermost leaves, or bracts, forming an open, few-flowered inflorescence. Each saucer-shaped flower has 5 yellowish sepals that fall off shortly after opening, 5 yellow petals that are 8-15 mm long, each with a small basal pocket with long hairs at the top, and numerous stamens and ovaries. The cylindric fruiting heads bear 20-100 flattened, egg-shaped, hairy achenes that are 1-2 mm long; each has a short, straight beak on top.
Diagnostic Characteristics
There are many species of buttercups. A technical key and hand lens or microscope are required for positive determination. The combination of spade-shaped basal leaf blades, long, cylindrical fruit heads up to 12 mm high, and hairy achenes with straight beaks help to identify this species.
Habitat
This species is found in dry or wet meadows at elevations ranging from 600 to 3,400 meters (Whittemore, 2020).