Kingdom Plantae Family Ranunculaceae Scientific name Ranunculus abortivus | Order Ranunculales Genus Ranunculus Rank Species | |
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Similar Uvularia sessilifolia, Potentilla simplex, Hypoxis hirsuta, Micranthes virginiensis, Ranunculus septentrionalis | ||
Ranunculus abortivus is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Its common names include littleleaf buttercup, small-flower crowfoot, small-flowered buttercup, and kidneyleaf buttercup. It is widespread across much of North America, found in all 10 Canadian Provinces plus Yukon and Northwest Territories, and most of the United States, except Hawaii, Oregon, California, and parts of the Southwest.
Ranunculus abortivus produces erect, hairless stems 10 to 60 centimeters (4-24 inches) tall. Each stem can bear up to 50 flowers. The flower has five petals up to 3.5 millimeters (1.2 inches) long.
The plant had a variety of uses among Native American groups. The Cherokee cooked and ate the leaves. They used it medicinally for abscesses and sore throat and as a sedative. The Iroquois used it for snakebite and poisoning, smallpox, and toothache.
