About Ranunculus hebecarpus Hook. & Arn.
Ranunculus hebecarpus, commonly called the delicate buttercup, is a species of buttercup. It is native to western North America, where it occurs across several western United States and Baja California. It grows in grassland, woodland, and chaparral habitats. This plant is an annual herb that grows a slender, hairy stem. The stem can be just a few centimeters high, and reaches a maximum height of 30 centimeters. Its hairy leaves grow on long petioles, and their leaf blades are deeply lobed or split into three leaflets, which often have toothed or lobed edges. The flowers of this species have 3 to 5 tiny yellow petals that measure only 1 or 2 millimeters long, studded on the bulbous nectary; some flowers do not produce petals at all. This plant is easiest to identify during its fruiting stage. At this stage, its infructescence forms a spherical cluster of several tiny disc-shaped achenes, which have compressed, bristly sides.
