| Ranunculus acris | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Ranunculus |
| Species: | R. acris |
| Binomial name | |
| Ranunculus acris L. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
R. acer Auct. |
|
Ranunculus acris is one of the more common buttercups across Europe and temperate Eurasia. Common names include meadow buttercup and tall buttercup. The plant is also known as an introduced species across much of the rest of the world, including Australia. It is a naturalized species and often a weed in parts of North America,[1] but it is probably native in Alaska and Greenland.[2]
This species is variable in appearance across the world. It is a somewhat hairy plant that has ascending flowing stems bearing glossy yellow flowers about 25 mm across. There are five overlapping petals borne above 5 green sepals that soon turn yellow as the flower matures. It has numerous stamens inserted below the ovary. As with other members of the genus, the numerous seeds are borne as achenes.
This and other buttercups contain ranunculin, which breaks down to the toxin protoanemonin, a chemical that can cause dermatitis and vomiting.
The rare autumn buttercup (R. aestivalis) is sometimes treated as a variety of this species.[3]