Ranunculus andersonii

An iconic and magnificent ranunculus, James ... along with R. semiverticillatus and R. acraeus, the cream of buttercups.
I have germinated it twice, grown it on briefly just once and coveted it ever since.

It is eay to grow, then, Cliff ;)?

Hoy wrote:

It is eay to grow, then, Cliff ;)?

Probably only if you are Cliff!!!  Cliff grows Ranunculus glacialis among other fabulous buttercups.

some pretty pictures:
http://www.nargs.org/nargswiki/show_image.php?id=2530&scalesize=o
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0508+2113
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0310+2374
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=7269+3192+0004+0009
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0409+0162
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanto/3205972420/#/

It appears that Ron Ratko and Alan Bradshaw have listed the seed in the past. I spoke with Harvey Wrightman also, and he indicated that he germinated it, but that it wasn't an easy plant to grow on. He lost all of the seedlings over the first summer. It certainly is beautiful, though.

Just this last summer I moved six dormant plants into my garden. I have my fingers crossed that they take hold. They grow on sharply drained north facing slopes in this area. The soil is a stony clay that is vernaly moist, drying to a hard crust through the spring. They go dormant by early-mid July, receiving almost no rain through the months of July through September. When you find them they are abundant.

I will endeavor to collect seed next season for the seed exchange.

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral, so perhaps we can arrange a private seedex, just for us buttercup afficianados.

The private seedex idea is fine by me!  :)

Peter wrote:

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral.

Apparently, Ranunculus gramineas is one of the exceptions.  I received seed through NARGS, planted in late February, and the seed emerged in late summer as it is supposed to.

Hey All,

Thanks for the discussion and for the hope that some seed will be gathered. 

From 1994 to 2001 I worked at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah (try it on Google Earth... you'll be amazed at the desert, the stark beauty and  the grids that were made in the 40's, 50's and 60's that the military launched bombs onto).  This military installation had multiple populations of Ranunculus andersonii.  What Weiser said is spot on:

"They grow on sharply drained north facing slopes. The soil is a stony clay that is vernaly moist, drying to a hard crust through the spring. They go dormant by early-mid July, receiving almost no rain through the months of July through September. When you find them they are abundant."

Merry Christmas Everyone,
James

James, I didn't even know of this gorgeous Ranunculus before your posting, thanks so much for bringing it to the forefront, it shows that there are some North American Ranunculi that vie for honors with the revered European alpine Ranunculus species.  Now, the New Zealand Ranunculi, that's another story :D

Wow, that is an extraordinary plant!  I'm surprised too to see that it's North American... I had no idea!

Thanks for the picture links, Mark.  What a dazzling plant in bloom and the buds are equally beautiful. 

RickR wrote:

Peter wrote:

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral.

Apparently, Ranunculus gramineas is one of the exceptions.  I received seed through NARGS, planted in late February, and the seed emerged in late summer as it is supposed to.

How many of us have had similar experiences with Ranunculus seed? I once had several R. glacialis seed from NARGS seedex germinate, but otherwise I've never had any germination.

I found another photo, showing a somewhat unusual form with spaced propeller-like petals.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=%22Ranunculus+andersonii%22&psc=G&...

In Flora of North America (FONA), where the genus Ranunculus is divided into subgenera, R. andersonii is placed in Subg. Crymodes along with only one other species, R. glacialis.  FONA does not separately recognize R. andersonii var. tenellus, whereas the USDA Profile pages does recognize the variety.
  http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=310008
  http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RAAN

Peter wrote:

RickR wrote:

Peter wrote:

Ranunculus seed is usually ephemeral.

Apparently, Ranunculus gramineas is one of the exceptions.  I received seed through NARGS, planted in late February, and the seed emerged in late summer as it is supposed to.

How many of us have had similar experiences with Ranunculus seed? I once had several R. glacialis seed from NARGS seedex germinate, but otherwise I've never had any germination.

The only ranunculus germination "success" that springs to mind for me is the a few Ranunculus sceleratus that popped up the year before last...  :P   Not sure if the seed came in the seed exchange packets or in the potting soil.

I usually get excellent germination with FRESH SEED of Ranunculus glacialis, R. seguieri, R. alpestris and other European species and occasional germination with stored seed. This pattern is often repeated with New Zealand and North American seed (when fresh seed is available from excellent friends) - the major problem has been (and probably will always be) growing those little seedlings on to flowering size.  European and New Zealand high alpine buttercups are hardy, but young seedlings seem very susceptible (in my U.K. environment) to all manner of problems.  I manage to grow on about 2 per cent of my R. glacialis seeds and about 10 per cent of my R.seguieri seeds ... New Zealand buttercups can vary between 20 per cent of R. insignis to 1 per cent of R. haastii.  
Ranunculus parnassifolius and R.alpestris are much easier and equally beautiful.

Seasons greetings to forum members ... may you all enjoy a happy, healthy and floriferous New Year.

Ranunculus glacialis (or, as some maintain, Beckwithia glacialis)  :D

Although the red ones I pictured was nice I think the white ones takes the cake! Nice pic, Cliff!
I second the greeting: May all of you experience a green and floriferous new year!