Flower:

Flowers are at the end of naked stalks that branch out at the top of the plant. Each flower is about ¼ inch across, 5 pale yellow petals and a ring of yellow stamens around a bright green center ball. There are 5 round green sepals between the petals that are about as long as the petals. One plant has a few to several flowers.

Leaves:

There are both basal leaves, and leaves alternately attached up the stem. Basal leaves are up to 2 inches long and 2½ inches wide, round to kidney shaped, have scalloped edges and stems up to 3 inches long. Leaves attached on the lower part of the stem are often lobed in 3 or 5 parts, also with scalloped edges, and shorter leaf stems. Leaves at the top near the flowers are mostly narrow with smooth edges and little or no leaf stem, but may be lobed.

Notes:

There are multiple members of the buttercup family with small yellow flowers, but the leaf shape is unique for each species. The wide shape variation between the basal and top leaves makes Little-leaf Buttercup pretty easy to identify. The basal leaves are the first thing to sprout in the spring; they look similar to violets leaves, but are rounder.