Stems erect, 5-33 cm, pilose or glabrous, each with 3-7 flowers. Roots slender, 0.6-1.2 mm thick. Basal leaves persistent, blades ovate, obovate or orbiculate, rarely reniform, undivided or innermost with 2 clefts or partings near apex, 1-3.7 × 1.1-3.5 cm, base acute to rounded, margins entire, apex rounded. Flowers: pedicels appressed-pubescent; receptacle pilose or glabrous; sepals 3-5 × 2-3 mm, abaxially pilose, hairs colorless; petals 5, 4-9 × 2-5 mm; nectary scale glabrous. Heads of achenes cylindric, 7-17 × 5-8 mm; achenes 1.5-2 × 1.3-1.8 mm, canescent or glabrous; beak subulate, straight or hooked, 0.4-2 mm.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): w North America.

The Navaho-Ramah considered Ranunculus inamoenus to be an effective hunting medicine, used to protect hunters from their prey (D. E. Moerman 1986).

Lower Taxa

• Ranunculus inamoenus var. inamoenus
• Ranunculus inamoenus var. subaffinis (A. Gray) L. D. Benson