A new plant species in Nevada! Introducing Ranunculus legerae
Ranunculus legerae. Photo by Jan Nachlinger.
A new species of buttercup, Ranunculus legerae, has been discovered in Elko County, Nevada.
Described in a 2024 study by Jerry Tiehm and Jacqueline Lucero, this plant was initially collected in 1937 but not found again until 2017. The new species was officially confirmed during fieldwork in 2022 and 2023. The plant is found near the Elko Snobowl and flowers just after snowmelt. Named in honor of Beth Leger, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, this species has been recommended for conservation watch lists.
“Ranunculus legerae remained uncollected for 80 years, now known from easily accessible locations within six miles of Elko. The area never looked interesting enough for botanists to stop, yet this remarkable species lay hidden in plain sight.”