Meadow Buttercup
Buttercup meadow
Meadow Buttercup habit
Flower from above
Flower and sepals from below
Smooth unfurrowed flower stem
Close-up of seed-head
Upper leaf
Lower leaf
Stem bases (not swollen)
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculaceae
April to October
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distrubution map for Meadow Buttercup
Meadow Buttercup is found in damp grassland, woods
and waste ground, and alongside roads and footpaths.
It is also a garden weed.
It is a native, perennial herb growing up to 1m. It is
the tallest of the buttercups found in the UK.
The flowers are yellow and glossy and up to 2.5cm
across.
The sepals are spreading and not curved back as in
Flower stalks are unfurrowed.
The upper leaves are very variable and can be almost
thread-like.
The lower leaves are hand -shaped (palmate) with the
upper lobe unstalked (cf Bulbous Buttercup).
The bases of the stems are unswollen (cf Bulbous
Meadow Buttercup and other buttercups are slightly
poisonous to horses. They are bitter and normally horses
avoid eating them.
Click here for further information.
Previous page: Marsh Violet
Next page: Meadow-foam
Buttercup meadow
Meadow Buttercup habit
Flower from above
Flower and sepals from below
Smooth unfurrowed flower stem
Close-up of seed-head
Upper leaf
Lower leaf
Stem bases (not swollen)
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