Meadow Buttercup Information:
- Scientific Name: Ranunculus acris
- Common Name: Meadow buttercup, tall buttercup, giant buttercup, common buttercup
- Origin: Europe
- Current Status: Naturalized in North America
Through the Roots
Buttercups often spread through the roots rather than by re-seeding. Seeding buttercups takes considerably longer, so nature created a more efficient path!
The Trick of the Buttercup
If your chin turns yellow from a buttercup it’s a chemical reaction that the buttercup creates.
Ranunculus Cousin
Buttercups are related to the very popular florist flower ranunculus and to anemones!
Nectar Runway
The lustrous yellow flowers are meant to attract bees of all types!
Northern Wildflowers
Buttercups are generally found in colder, moist habitats in the Northern Hemisphere.
Bee Heaven
Buttercups have a unique feature called a nectariferous spot that attracts all kinds of bees and other insects to the bottom of their petals. At the base of the petals, there is a “nectar pool”.
Additional Buttercup Facts:
- Another frequently seen buttercup is the ranunculus repens or creeping buttercup. It is identifiable by its low height compared to the meadow buttercup.
- Ranunculus comes from Latin for little frog because buttercups often grow near the edge of the water.
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