Anemone Buttercup - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Ranunculus anemoneus

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 30 Mar 2020

Description

The Anemone Buttercup is a robust, perennial herb. Its basal leaves are large (to 8 cm wide), leathery and deeply-cleft into multiple spreading lobes; the stem-clasping leaves are stalkless. The dramatic flowers are creamy-white and large (to 6 cm in diameter). The flowers appear almost as soon as the snow melts. The numerous fruits, which are densely-clustered in a head to 1.5 cm in diameter, have a prominent beak to 2 mm long.

Distribution

The Anemone Buttercup occurs in a narrow band, only about 8km wide and 32km long, along the Great Dividing Range within Kosciuszko National Park (comprising the Main Range between Mt Kosciuszko and Mt Twynam; the Charlottes Pass resort; the Mt Perisher - Mt Blue Cow area; the Guthega - Mt Tate area; the Schlink Pass - Gungarten Pass area, the Rams Head Range and Upper parts of Thredbo, and Mt Jagungal).

Habitat and ecology

The Anemone Buttercup generally occurs in environments with late melting snow; on south to east facing, steep grassy slopes, or rocky crevices, or short alpine herbfields. The species has also been collected along watercourses, in grassland, heathland (below snowpatches) and on roadside batters. Soils at Anemone Buttercup sites include loams (alpine humus soils), peats and decomposing granite.
It is probably palatable to domestic stock and therefore grazing-sensitive. Part of the reason for the susceptibility of Anemone Buttercup to grazing might be its early flowering. This is because species in the high country that flower soon after snow melt form their flower buds in the autumn before flowering; grazing of Anemone Buttercup flower buds in autumn could significantly impact on populations if plants are short-lived.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Australian Alps

Threats

May be threatened by horse and rabbit grazing if these feral animals become more prevalent.
Habitat and plants may be lost as a result of ski slope developments.
Browsing pressure from introduced herbivores (e.g. rabbits) and trampling/disturbance from feral ungulates (e.g. deer, horses).
Weed invasion from ski resorts, spread of seeds between alpine zones by walkers, and potential dispersal by firefighting equipment and vehicles.
Insufficient understanding of distribution and/or abundance.
Development and human disturbance associated with ski resorts, such as slope grooming, expansion of ski run and accommodation facilities, picking of flowers by recreational visitors, and creation of bike tracks.
Climate change associated changes in vegetation structure (change scrub cover from grassland to shrubland) within preferred habitat. Warming and drying of the alpine ecosystem reducing suitable habitat and ecological conditions (e.g. decreasing habitat moisture)

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 2 priority actions to help recover the Anemone Buttercup in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Control horses and rabbits from habitat when required.
Searches should be conducted in suitable habitat in proposed ski slope development areas.

Information sources

Costin A.B., Gary M., Totterdell C.J. and Wimbush D.J. (1982) Kosciusko Alpine Flora. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
Fraser, I. and McJannett, M. (1998) Wildflowers of the Snow Country; a field guide to the Australian Alps. Vertego Press, Canberra.
Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2000) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 1. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Approved Recovery Plan for the Threatened Alpine Flora Anemone Buttercup (Ranunculus anemoneus), Feldmark Grass (Erythranthera pumila), Raleigh Sedge (Carex raleighii) & Shining Cudweed (Euchiton nitidulus) and other threatened alpine flora. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)