However, the sagebrush buttercup is an important spring food of blue grouse.īuttercup petals have a nectar gland at the base of each petal. Buttercups can be poisonous to livestock. The caustic sap can blister or ulcerate the skin - do not put plant parts in mouth! One species contains chemicals so harsh and poisonous that it can cause stomach pain if even a small portion of a leaf is eaten. The species name "glaberrimus" means smooth.īuttercups as a group are poisonous. The genus name, "Ranunculus," comes from the Latin words "rana" for frog and "unculus" for little - referring to the wet habitat of some buttercup species. In early spring, look for sagebrush buttercup in woodland meadows and open sagebrush habitats around Idaho City, Cascade and Garden Valley.īuttercups get their common name because the shiny yellow petals resemble a dab of butter. Sagebrush buttercup is one of more than forty buttercup species that grow in the northern Rocky Mountains. This early spring jewel prefers moist habitats ranging from sagebrush flats to ponderosa pine forests. Leaves are dark green with both smooth and lobed edges.įlowers of sagebrush buttercup can appear as early as late March in lower elevations and can be found in mountain valleys in May. Numerous bright yellow stamens (tiny pollen bearing structures) fill the flower center. Plant the corms 2 inches deep, 9 inches apart. The corms are ready for spring planting in the garden. Roots will form in about two weeks, and the corms will begin to sprout. Keep soil slightly moist, and check daily for mold. It is one of the first signs of spring in sagebrush country! The flowers normally have 5 shiny, waxy-looking yellow petals that turn white with age. Place tray in a cool, dark, dry space, like a basement.
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