Ranunculus pyrenaicus

Perennial of the Ranunculaceae family, endemic to the Pyrenees where it is mainly present in the central and eastern massifs, rarer in the west. It occupies short alpine grasslands, snow patches, cervunales, and Festuca eskia pastures, on siliceous substrate or decalcified soils, between 1700 and 3000 meters.

The plant is small and slender, from 5 to 20 cm, forming modest loose tufts. Its leaves are entire, narrowly linear to lanceolate, of a medium green, which clearly distinguishes it from most buttercups whose foliage is dissected. This characteristic, shared with the close Ranunculus alpestris but in a siliceous context, gives it a very different appearance from the genus.

The flowers are pure and bright white, with five well-spread petals, with a bright yellow center formed by numerous stamens. They are borne on thin stems, often one to three per stem, and their clarity contrasts with the fineness of the surrounding foliage.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to August depending on the altitude.

In cultivation, it requires an acidic, well-drained but fresh substrate, in full light. It is suitable for rock gardens on silica or alpine troughs, but remains a specialist plant, little widespread in horticulture.