Ranunculus fascicularis Muhl. ex Bigelow

Thick Root Buttercup; Early Buttercup

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Thick Root Buttercup is a native herbaceous perennial in the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It is found primarily in the central and northern portions of the state. Thick Root Buttercup grows in prairies, in pastures, in lawns, and in deciduous forests. It is a perennial with thickened, tuberous roots. Stems are decumbent to ascending, pubescent, green in color, and never rooting at the nodes. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves are petiolate and 3-5 foliate. The leaf segments are entire or once lobed or parted into oblanceolate or obovate segments with rounded apices. The cauline leaves are similar but smaller than the basal leaves. The cauline leaves are sessile or short-petiolate and undivided or they with 2-3 narrow lobes. Flowers are solitary on long pubescent peduncles. Each flower has 5 sepals, 5-10 shiny yellow petals, numerous stamens, and numerous carpels. The fruit is a head of achenes. The achenes are beaked. Thick Root Buttercup is very similar to Bristly Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus Michaux). Bristly Buttercup lacks the thickened, tuberous roots of Thick Root Buttercup.—A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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