Description from
Flora of China
Ranunculus propinquus C. A. Meyer in Ledebour, Fl. Altaic. 2: 332. 1830; R. acris var. propinquus (C. A. Meyer) Maximowicz; Ranunculus acris var. stevenii (Andrzejowski) Regel; R. japonicus var. pratensis Kitagawa; R. stevenii Andrzejowski.
Stems toward base and petioles strigose. Leaf blade 3-partite, rarely 3-sect. Upper stem leaves not silvery strigose. Fl. May--Sep.
Michio Tamura (pers. comm.) believes that this variety would be better treated as a distinct species.
Gansu, SW Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, W Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, E Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, N Xinjiang, Yunnan [Mongolia, Russia (Siberia)].