Flower:

Single flower at the end of a hairy stalk that arises from a leaf axil. Flowers are 1/3 to ½ inch across, with 5 to 8 (usually 5) yellow petals, 5 yellowish sepals shorter than the petals, and numerous yellow stamens surrounding a bulbous green center. Most plants have from 3 to 12 flowers.

Leaves and stem:

The stem leaves are deeply lobed into 3 to 5 narrow segments up to an inch long and are alternately attached, but may look whorled or palmately compound. There is no leaf stalk.

There are also a few basal leaves on slender stalks up to 2 inches long. Basal leaves are up to 1½ inches long, ¾ inch wide, have rounded teeth except near the base, and vary in shape from egg-shaped to oval to rhombic to lobed in 3 parts. Leaves and stems are typically covered with long soft hairs.

Fruit:

The flower center expands to a round to oval seed head up to 3/8 inch in diameter. Seeds are smooth with a minute beak at the tip.

Notes:

Prairie Buttercup may only be 2 or 3 inches tall when it starts flowering, but the stems can eventually elongate to about 10 inches. The flowers aren't very distinctive for a buttercup, but the leaves and (typically) open prairie habitat make this species easy to identify in the field. It is also among the first prairie plants to bloom in the spring.