1. (noun) hairy alpine buttercup, mountain buttercup, Ranunculus insignis - a very large and beautiful native buttercup, with glossy leaves, found in pools of water in subalpine to low alpine regions. Leaves are heart- or kidney-shaped, thick and leathery with brown hairs fringing their toothed margins. Flowering stem is branched and carries numerous bright yellow flowers, 2-5 cm in diameter. Usually five to seven petals.