Western Buttercup

Ranunculus occidentalis

Physical Characteristics

Ranunculus occidentalis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

South-western N. America - British Columbia to California and Nevada.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Seed - cooked[257, 270]. Used as piñole either on its own or mixed with other seeds[257]. The seed must be parched in order to remove an acrid principle[105, 161].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

The juice from the flowers was used as a poison by native North American Indians[270]. Thse toxins are likely to be present in all parts of the plant and can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. Many if not all plants in this genus also have a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].