U.S. #5673
2022 58¢ Mountain Flora: Alpine Buttercup (coil)
Issue Date: March 14, 2022
First Day City: Alpine, WY
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Coil of 3,000 OR Coil of 10,000
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 12,000,000 OR 30,000,000
There are many species of buttercup flower in North America, with small variations that set each one apart. One such variety is known as the alpine buttercup, scientific name Ranunculus adoneus. This species is found growing in higher elevations, often in grassy meadows fed by the water of melting snow. Ranunculus means "little frog," a nod to the fact that buttercups prefer to grow in wet or marshy environments such as this.
Alpine buttercups are mainly found in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, but are also known to exist in Idaho, northern Utah, and eastern Nevada. This plant has bright yellow flowers with five to ten petals arranged in a cup shape. The stems are smooth and thick and usually feature one blossom each, though some hold up to three. Buttercups have specially designed petals that are excellent at reflecting light. This is believed to help them attract a number of pollinators such as bumblebees. The flowers bloom from May through September.
Many mountain flowers might be considered weeds if they were found in your backyard. However, when you notice them on a hike near the summit, it's a lucky find. Not many people get to experience the thrill of spotting these lovely wildflowers. It's a sight that makes the difficult hike well worth it.