Stems erect, pilose. Basal and lower cauline leaf blades cordate-reniform, deeply 3-parted, 0.6-2.3 × 1.2-3.5 cm, segments undivided or 2-4-lobed, base shallowly cordate, margins entire or 2-4-dentate, apex of ultimate segments acute. Flowers pedicellate; receptacle glabrous; sepals 5, spreading, 1.1-1.8 × 0.5-1 mm, pilose; petals 0-5, 1.3-2 × 0.3-0.7 mm. Heads of achenes discoid, 4-6 × 3 mm; achenes 4-9 per head, 1.7-2.3 × 1.7-2 mm, faces and margin papillose, each papilla crowned with hooked bristle, otherwise glabrous; beak lanceolate, hooked distally, 0.5-0.7 mm.

Flowering spring (Mar-May). Grasslands, open woodlands, and chaparral; 50-900 m; Calif., Idaho, Oreg., Wash.; Mexico (Baja California).

Ranunculus hebecarpus is native to western North America.