Geyer ex Benth.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142903
Element CodePDRAN0L050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRanunculales
FamilyRanunculaceae
GenusRanunculus
Other Common NamesPlantainleaf Buttercup (EN) plantainleaf buttercup (EN) Renoncule à feuilles d'alisme (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-03-31
Change Date1990-01-16
Edition Date2025-03-31
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsRanunculus alismifolius is a perennial forb occurring in damp meadows, woods, bogs, in shallow waters of streams and ponds, on stream banks, and open slopes of North America from British Columbia, Canada south through California, east to Colorado, and north to Montana in the United States. It also occurs in Mexico. There are estimated to be over 500 occurrences rangewide, which are potentially threatened by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, mowing, trampling, grazing, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats and trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Ranunculus alismifolius is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsRanunculus alismifolius occurs in western North America, from British Columbia, Canada south through California, east to Colorado, and north to Montana in the United States (FNA 1997). It also occurs in Baja California, Mexico. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025). See individual entries for distribution details about the six varieties.
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are more than 500 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Ranunculus alismifolius is likely threatened by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species. In British Columbia, populations are threatened by mowing, trampling, and grazing (COSEWIC 2009).