Arctic Buttercup, Ice Cold Buttercup, Modest Buttercup, Timberline Buttercup, Tundra Buttercup
Ranunculus gelidus
Synonyms: Ranunculus gelidus ssp. grayi, Ranunculus grayi, Ranunculus verecundus
The photo above shows a flower of modest buttercup
as seen at 7980' on moist, rocky slopes in the Devils Garden on the northeastern
side of Mt. Adams........July 24, 2005. Note the numerous central pistils,
numerous broad stamens ringing the pistils, and the 5 yellow petals which measure
up to 5 mm long.
The photo above shows the form of modest buttercup
as seen at 7980' on moist, rocky slopes in the Devils Garden on the northeastern
side of Mt. Adams........July 24, 2005.
The photo above shows upper stem of modest
buttercup as seen at 7980' on moist, rocky slopes in the Devils Garden on the
northeastern side of Mt. Adams........July 24, 2005. This species
often has up to 3 flowers at the tip of each stem.
A side-view of the flower of modest buttercup. Note the reddish-orange
sepals which have curled downwards from the petals, and which are lined with
long, loose hairs.
The photo above shows a close-up of the dense, elongated cluster
of pistils which will develop into achenes of modest buttercup. Note the curved
beak at the tip of each pistil. The beaks of both the similar snow buttercup
and subalpine buttercup are straight.
The photo above shows a close-up of the glabrous leaf of modest
buttercup. Note the heart-shaped base and the three main lobes which are each
divided into smaller lobes.
Paul Slichter