Iowa wildflower Wednesday: Littleleaf buttercup (Kidney-leaf buttercup)

Longtime followers of this series know I have a soft spot for wildflowers that might not be particularly “showy” but are tough as nails, thriving in some inhospitable habitats.

Littleleaf buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) falls into that category. Native to almost all of the U.S. and Canada, this “somewhat weedy” plant can grow in “open woodlands, woodland borders, areas along woodland paths, degraded meadows, banks of rivers and ditches, pastures and abandoned fields, edges of yards, vacant lots, grassy areas along railroads and roads, and waste areas.”

Also known as littleleaf crowfoot, small-flowered buttercup, or kidney-leaf buttercup, these plants are easily overlooked among more striking spring bloomers. The flowers are small, and the foliage often blends in with surrounding plants.

Except where otherwise noted, I took all of the enclosed pictures near our home in Windsor Heights.

For botanically accurate descriptions of littleleaf buttercup foliage, flowers, and seeds, visit the Illinois Wildflowers, Minnesota Wildflowers, or Friends of the Wild Flower Garden websites.

These plants can be relatively small.

 photo littleleafcrowfootclose_zpsxc95nzcg.jpg

 photo littleleafcrowfoot1_zpsxf93vvgs.jpg

 photo crowfootsquare_zpsepzm6m3m.jpg

Or they can reach a height of almost two feet, with branching stems.

 photo littleleafcrowfootbrick_zpsuxcvuzlv.jpg

Littleleaf buttercups can gain a foothold almost anywhere. This tiny one was growing out of a crack between rocks at Dolliver Memorial State Park in Webster County.

 photo crowfootrocks_zpssqatowo2.jpg

The kidney-shaped leaves near the bottom of the plant emerge first. This plant is growing by the edge of our driveway.

 photo littleleafcrowfootbaseleaves_zps87xcmzcp.jpg

A little later, the stem emerges, with different-shaped leaves.

 photo littleleafcrowfootdriveway_zpsoo9kb0oz.jpg

Finally, the small flower.

 photo littleleafcrowfootdriveway_zps5q0ubodk.jpg

The Friends of the Wild Flower Garden and U.S. Wildflowers sites provide gorgeous close-up views of these plants. This shot was the best I could manage.

 photo crowfootclose_zpsm9sqs23n.jpg

When I said littleleaf buttercups were tough, I meant they can grow out of a rock pile in a shady area under a deck.

 photo littleleafcrowfootrocks_zpsu6fwxi6j.jpg

You might not notice the littleleaf buttercups near common blue violets and dandelions.

 photo dandelionvioletscrowfoot_zpsdgu9j5em.jpg

Virginia bluebells stealing the show.

 photo crowfootbluebells_zps0vchpz1c.jpg

Sweet William (also known as blue phlox) is much more eye-catching.

Sweet William with little leaf Crowfoot photo crowfootsweetWilliam_zpssthgdztx.jpg

A small colony of littleleaf buttercups near more sweet William and dandelions.

 photo crowfootsweetWilliamdandeliongroup_zpsvk0yhba2.jpg

The smooth, heart-shaped leaves on the right are wild ginger.

Littleleaf Crowfoot with wild ginger leaves photo crowfootwildginger_zpsrqbfwsdy.jpg

The pink flowers near the top are spring beauty.

 photo littleleafcrowfootspringbeauty_zpsvjsxblho.jpg

Sweet Cicely is about to bloom near this littleleaf buttercup.

Crowfoot buttercup with sweet Cicely photo littleleafcrowfootsweetCicely_zpssgixorr2.jpg

This picture is five years old, but I haven’t been able to get a better shot recently of a May apple (umbrella plant) overshadowing a littleleaf buttercup. On the left, some spring beauties have closed up for the evening, and on the far right, you can see Virginia waterleaf buds that will open soon.

Littleleaf crowfoot and umbrella plant photo crowfootbuttercup_umbrellaplant_zps4cb6a38b.jpg

Tags: Wildflowers

About the Author(s)

desmoinesdem

Comments