Those crazy buttercups!

I've been away for a while, and can't figure out how to rotate this image 90 degrees. Perhaps you could tilt your head to the left? Anyway, this is baneberry, a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. The buttercups are familiar to everyone, but based on the appearance of their flowers, who but a trained botanist would guess that columbine, larkspur, monkshood, clematis, and anemone, among other diverse flowers are in this family, too. Some species are edible, some have medicinal properties and some are deadly poisonous. In fact, a species of monkshood found in Asia is considered the most poisonous plant in the world. My fascination with the species found in our area is never-ending. Discovering their various pollinators is a study in itself. Columbines, for instance, are pollinated by hummingbirds or moths, usually a specific species of animal pollinating each species of columbine, their beak or proboscis perfectly fitting the particular flower. When Darwin discovered these pairings, then found a columbine in South America with spurs several inches long, he predicted that eventually a hummingbird with a very long beak to match would be found in the vicinity, and it was!
My next post will include photos of my favorite members of the buttercup family found in Plumas County.