BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Ranunculus glaberrimus | Sagebrush Buttercup 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Sagebrush buttercup is a native, cool-season annual or perennial forb
which grows from 2 to 6 inches (5.1-15 cm) in height [11,12].  The stem
or more commonly stems are erect to prostrate, 2 to 8 inches (5-20 cm)
long, and simple or branched [6].  Sagebrush buttercup grows from a
cluster of fleshy roots [6]; broad basal leaves are rounded or ovate,
with margins indented to form few to many shallow lobes [11].  Var.
ellipticus has entire, elliptic to oblanceolate basal leaves, whereas
var. glaberrimus more typically has ovate to obovate, shallowly lobed
basal leaves [6].  The five sepals are most commonly purplish-tinged;
cuneate to flabellate petals also grow in groups of five and are yellow
[6].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Chamaephyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sagebrush buttercup regenerates sexually through numerous beaked seeds
or achenes and vegetatively through root sprouting [3,11].  From 30 to
150 seeds are contained in each semiglobose cluster at the top of the
flower stalk [6].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Sagebrush buttercup is fairly widespread throughout its range and occurs
in a number of plant communities from sagebrush-grassland to higher
elevation montane sites.  Var. glaberrimus grows on drier sites and at
lower elevations than does var. ellipticus [2].  Var. glaberrimus most
commonly grows in lowland valleys in sagebrush and grassland plant
communities or in parks or open woodlands [2,6].  Var. ellipticus occurs
on upper sagebrush slopes and at higher elevations with juniper
(Juniperus spp.), ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi), spruce
(Picea spp.), and fir (Abies spp.) [2,6].

Sagebrush buttercup typically grows on sandy or loamy soils [2].  Growth
on clay is described as fair to good, and growth on gravel as fair to
poor [3].  Optimum soil depth is 20 inches (51 cm) or more [3].

Elevational ranges of both varieties are as follows [3]:

R. g. var. ellipticus:  from 5,000-10,000 feet (1,525-3,050 m) in CO
                       3,200-9,000 feet (976-2,745 m) in MT   
                       5,500-9,000 feet (1,678-2,745 m) in UT
                       6,600-11,600 feet (2,013-3,538 m) in WY
          
R. g. var. glaberrimus:  from 3,200-5,000 feet (976-1,525 m) in MT
                        5,000-6,800 feet (1,525-2,074 m) in UT



SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Sagebrush buttercup is most often a constituent of early seral
communities.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Sagebrush buttercup is a cool-season annual or perennial which flowers
very early [11,12].  It is the first flower of spring throughout most of
its range and has flowered as early as January 5 in the vicinity of
Reno, Nevada [2].  Flowering dates are as follows [3]:

         Beginning of Flowering            End of Flowering
  CO            April                            June
  MT            April                            July
  ND            April                            May
  WY            April                            July
  UT            April                            July

Growth is generally completed by midsummer [11].

Related categories for Species: Ranunculus glaberrimus | Sagebrush Buttercup