# Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia (*suksdorfia ranunculifolia*)

The Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia is a delightful little plant with bright green leaves that look like buttercup flowers! It adds a splash of color to its surroundings and is a favorite among butterflies.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** It commonly grows in meadows, grasslands, and along forest edges.
- **Also known as:** Buttercup Suksdorfia, Suksdorf's Buttercup

![Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Suksdorfiaranunculifolia.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suksdorfiaranunculifolia.jpg)

## Appearance

The Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia is a small plant with deeply lobed, dark green leaves that cluster at its base, resembling those of a buttercup. Slender stems emerge, topped with delicate clusters of small, five-petaled white or pale purplish flowers, often found peeking from rocky crevices.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Saxifragaceae
- **Genus:** Hemieva

## Interesting facts

- It got its name from Wilhelm Suksdorf, a botanist who explored the Pacific Northwest!
- Its tiny flowers are surprisingly hardy, often blooming high up on cold, rocky cliffs!
- This plant is a master of disguise, its leaves look just like real buttercup leaves!
- You can find this resilient little plant growing mostly in Washington and Oregon mountains!

## Special abilities

- **Clinging Power:** Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia can grow roots into tiny rock crevices, helping it anchor firmly in challenging, exposed environments.
- **Water Whisperer:** Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia has broad, basal leaves that help collect and funnel rainwater towards its roots, capturing precious moisture.
- **Alpine Survivor:** Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia has a low-growing form that protects its delicate flowers and leaves from strong winds and harsh weather.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-20 cm
- **Spread:** 5-10 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Feeds on nectar and collects pollen from its flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Red-bellied Mining Bee (*Andrena erythrogastra*) — Visits the small flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Symbiotic with:** Mycorrhizal Fungus (*Glomus mosseae*) — Exchanges nutrients and water with the plant's roots.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia?

5-20 cm

### How wide does Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia spread?

5-10 cm

### How big are the flowers on Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia edible?

No

### Is Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia toxic?

None

### What is Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site
- [Kootenay Lake Provincial Park - Midge Creek Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kootenay-lake-provincial-park-midge-creek-site) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Buttercup-Leaf Suksdorfia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/buttercup-leaf-suksdorfia)