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Yellow and Orange Wildflower Gallery

Daisy-like Flowers - 5 petals

Loasaceae - Stickleaf family

Stickleaf (Chicken-theif) Mentzelia oligosperma

Flower 1/2"-1" wide is yellow-orange to salmon color.  Mounding plant grows to 18" tall.  Scalloped, hairy leaves detach and stick to clothing easily.  Unlike others of this genus, the flower opens in the morning.

Photos taken in Taylor county, Texas, June & September 2005

(Native of Texas)

see similar    Prairie Stickleaf

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family

Texas Yellow Star Lindheimera texana

Flower about 1" wide and the five petals look tacked on.  Plant grows 3-4 feet tall.

Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, May 2004

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2005

(Native of Texas)

Zygophyllaceae - Creosote-bush family

Goathead (Puncturevine) Tribulus terrestris

Flower about 1/4" wide.  Larger fruit about 3/8" wide.  Plant is trailing.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004

(Introduced)

Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family (Crowfoot family)

Common Name **zy 15** Scientific name

Photos taken in Smith County, Texas, November 2006

Above and below are probably similar species

Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family (Crowfoot family)

Common Name **zy 16** Scientific name

Photos taken in Smith County, Texas, November 2006

Hunting Similar Species

Without seeing the flowers or upper leaves it is very difficult for me to determine species

Large Flowered Species

Large Buttercup (Showy Buttercup) Ranunculus macranthus

Many rounded yellow petals, overlap.  Center head yellow with green center.  Leaves deeply lobed.  Hairy stems.

(Native of Texas, Callahan, east Texas)

Hairy Buttercup Ranunculus sardous (Ranunculus parvulus)

Five wide yellow petals overlap or not, green center.  Stems are hairy.  Deeply lobed leaves with pointed lobes.

(Introduced from Europe - Wood but not Smith or Van Zandt)

Early Buttercup (Thick-root Buttercup) Ranunculus fascicularis

Yellow flower has 5 rounded petals that do not overlap, center greenish.  Small deeply lobed, trifoliate leaves, all basal.  Hairy stem.  Blooms January-May

(Native of Texas, Smith & Van Zandt)

Spinyfruit Buttercup Ranunculus muricatus

Yellow flower has 5 rounded petals that do not overlap, dominated by greenish center.  Leaves have sharp lobes.  Spine covered fruit is larger than flower.

(all around but not Smith or Van Zandt)

Small Flowered Species

Littleleaf Buttercup (Small-flowered Crowfoot, Kidney leaf Buttercup) Ranunculus abortivus

Flower is small yellow star dominated by yellow center.  Rounder leaves lower, narrow upper leaves.

(Native of Texas, few around but not Smith or Van Zandt)

Mississippi Buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis (R. mississippiensis, R. subcordatus, R. texensis)

Tiny flower, yellow star dominated by center.  Long leaves.

(Native of Texas, all around but not Smith or Van Zandt)

Small-flowered Buttercup Ranunculus parviflorus

Tiny flower is dominated by greenish center, 5 yellow petals are very small.  Round leaves have deep sharp lobes

(Van Zandt but not Smith)

Smallflower Buttercup Ranunculus pusillus

Tiny flower is dominated by greenish center, many yellow petals are very small.  Basal leaves round with sharp lobes, hairy.  Upper leaves are narrow.

(all around but not Smith or Van Zandt)

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