Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Ranunculus triternatus
Dalles Mountain buttercup, obscure buttercup
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where known from Klickitat County; south-central Washington to Wasco County, Oregon.

Habitat: Sagebrush slopes.

Flowers: (December) January-April

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Endangered in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bees, flies, butterflies, beetles

Description:
General:

Perennial from a large cluster of fleshy roots, the several stems mostly erect, 5-20 cm. long, nearly glabrous, simple or branched above.

Leaves:

Leaves mostly basal; all leaves tri-ternately dissected into linear segments

Flowers:

Flowers 1-several on pedicels up to 10 cm. long; sepals 5, spreading, purplish-tinged, 5-8 mm. long, glabrous to stiff-hairy; petals 5, yellow, 8-15 mm. long; nectary scale wedge-shaped, 1.5-2 mm. long, forming a deep pocket; receptacle globose; stamens 40-80; pistils 30-150.

Fruits:

Achenes 1.5-2 mm. long, obovate, smooth; stylar beak straight, 0.5-0.8 mm. long.

Accepted Name:
Ranunculus triternatus A. Gray
Publication: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 21: 370. 1886.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook. var. reconditus L.D. Benson
Ranunculus reconditus A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr., superfluous renaming (illegitimate) [HC]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ranunculus triternatus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Ranunculus triternatus checklist entry

OregonFlora: Ranunculus triternatus information

E-Flora BC: Ranunculus triternatus atlas page

CalPhotos: Ranunculus triternatus photos

17 photographs:
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