![]() The name "European" Buttercup has been used as this is a world-wide species, originating in Eurasia. The family name of Buttercup, used to be "Crowfoot', hence the continuation of the old name in many of the species common names. The species, acris, is from the Latin for 'sharp tasting' and probably was used to describe this species as it is one of the most acrid of the genus. The generic name Ranunculus, is from two Latin words, 'rana' meaning ' frog' and 'unculus' meaning 'little' and together they refer to a group of plants, many of which grow in moist places - like little frogs. Names: Ranunculus acris is in Ranunculus Sect. New plants usually flower the second year. The plant can become weedy as the rhizome can create offshoots. It prefers sun but will grow and flower in partial sun. ![]() It is found in old fields, roadsides, meadows, and tended areas that are infrequently cut. Habitat: Tall Buttercup grows from a short rhizome or caudex, the base of the plant is not bulbous. ![]() Toxic: Buttercups have hazardous properties - see notes below. Buttercup seeds need some cold stratification for germination, at least 30 days and some species require 60 days. The tip has a persistent short triangular shaped beak that can be either curved or straight. Seed: The carpels mature to dry brown globose achenes 2-3 × 1.8-2.4 mm, that have margins forming a narrow rib. It blooms later than the other 3 buttercups in the Garden, usually late May to late summer. The center of this buttercup flower is a mass of stamens (30 to 70) with yellow anthers which surround a green immature receptacle composed of numerous carpels (15 to 40) each with a short style. The petals are broadly roundish and twice to 3x as long as the sepals. The flowers have 5 golden yellow shining petals and are from 2/3 to 1 1/4 inches wide when open there are 5 greenish-yellow spreading sepals which have fine hair and fall away during flowering. Inflorescence: Flowers occur in loose branching groups at the top of stems. Leaves are usually all below the middle of the stem. Stem leaves have just a few simple segments and short stalked except the most upper which are stalkless. The leaves are compound, basal and stem leaves vary in size, with the larger basal leaves divided into 3 to 5 sessile lobes which are deeply cleft or toothed, and on long stalks, as much as 8 inches long. The Tall Buttercup is an introduced species, a naturalized perennial, that has erect stems with soft hair, 1 to 3 feet high, with branching in the upper portion. At Eloise Butler there are Buttercups in the Woodland Garden near and in the wetland and also in the Upland Garden. Most grow in bogs or moist areas, some in drier meadows. Buttercups comprise about 275 different species.
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