First up: Buttercup!
Hello alpine plant enthusiasts and welcome to the inaugural Alpine EcoQuest for the Colorado Alpine EcoFlora Project!
Alpine EcoQuests are botanical scavenger hunts that are open to everyone. Each month of the short alpine growing season, community scientists focus on finding a specific plant for the Colorado Alpine EcoFlora Project.
For our first Alpine EcoQuest, we’ll focus on observing the Alpine Buttercup (Ranunculus adoneus). This petite perennial is one of several species in the Ranunculus genus that occur in the alpine here in CO, and is distinguished by its bright yellow flowers and deeply dissected leaves with linear terminal segments. Often encountered along the edges of melting snowbanks or even popping up through the snow, this sunny flower is a reminder of the resiliency of alpine plants in even the harshest of conditions.
The Colorado Alpine EcoFlora Project invites botany-enthusiasts of all levels to observe, study and conserve native Rocky Mountain alpine plants using iNaturalist, an easy-to-use mobile app. All you need is a sense of curiosity and to start exploring!
We wish you a beautiful start to the summer, and as always please adhere to Leave No Trace guidelines for recreating responsibly in the alpine. This environment is adapted to the toughest conditions but is still vulnerable to human disturbance. Stay on hard surfaces and trails; pack out all your waste; clean up after your pets; and always be prepared.
Happy botanizing and stay tuned for more Alpine EcoQuests this season!
