Stems erect from short caudices, not rooting nodally, glabrous, not bulbous-based. Tuberous roots absent. Leaves: basal leaf blades semicircular or reniform in outline, shallowly 5-7-lobed, 1.2-4.6 × 1.8-6.6 cm, ultimate segments semicircular, margins crenate, apex rounded or weakly apiculate; cauline leaves 0-2, scalelike. Flowers: receptacle glabrous; sepals spreading, white or pale yellow, 6-13 × 3-6 mm, glabrous; petals 8-12, greenish, 2-4 × 0.6-1.6 mm. Heads of achenes ovoid, 6-7 × 6-8 mm; achenes 3.8-4.2 × 0.8-1 mm, canescent; beak persistent, filiform, 1.2-1.4 mm, hooked distally.

Flowering winter-summer (Feb-Jul). Wet places near streams, especially around waterfalls; 300-2300 m; Calif.

Ranunculus hystriculus is endemic to the west slope of the Sierra Nevada.