Ranunculus sardous
Ranunculaceae
May to October
It is found all round the country in coastal and
sub-maritime areas. It is scattered inland.
See the BSBI distribution map for Hairy Buttercup
It grows in thin turf and disturbed areas on coastal
pastures, by ponds, roads and tracks.
Hairy Buttercup is a native, annual herb, growing up
to 45cm.
Flowers are a shiny, pale yellow and up to 2.5cm across.
There are 5 ovate petals and the sepals are distinctly
reflexed.
The yellow stamens appear a little before the achenes
(each containing one seed).
Achenes are round with a slightly curved beak.
The flower stalks are hairy and furrowed.
Lower leaves have 3 irregularly lobed leaflets and the
terminal leaflet has the longest stalk.
Upper leaves are sessile (no stalk) and deeply divided
into narrow lobes.
Stems are hairy and not bulbous at the base.
Previous page: Guelder Rose
Next page: Hairy Greenweed
Hairy Buttercup, East Cliff,
West Bay, Dorset
Plant habit
Newly opened - stamens dominate
Petal fall - carpels with small stigmas
Sepals on newly open flower
Sepals on older flower - grooved stem
Achenes with short, curved beaks
Basal leaf - stalked terminal leaflet
Upper leaves - sessile and narrow
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