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Ranunculus - L.

Common Name Meadow Buttercup, Tall buttercup, Showy buttercup
Family Ranunculaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards All parts of the plant are poisonous, the toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. The plant has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].
Habitats Damp meadows and pastures, usually on calcareous or circum-neutral soils[4, 17]. Also found on damp rock ledges, in gullies and occasionally on mountain top detritus[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, through Asia to China and Japan.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ranunculus Meadow Buttercup, Tall buttercup, Showy buttercup


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Ranunculus_acris0_clean.jpg
Ranunculus Meadow Buttercup, Tall buttercup, Showy buttercup
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Ranunculus is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

R. acer.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and used as greens[257]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The whole plant is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and rubefacient[4, 21]. The plant has been crushed and applied as a poultice to the chest to relieve colds and chest pains[257]. The fresh leaves have been used as a rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism etc[222]. The flowers and the leaves have been crushed and sniffed as a treatment for headaches[257]. An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[257]. The poulticed root is also rubefacient and was applied to boils and abscess[222, 257]. The plant sap has been used to remove warts[4]. The sap has also been used as a sedative[257]. The flowers are used in Tibetan medicine, where they are considered to have an acrid taste and a heating potency[241]. Their use is said to promote heat, dissolve tumours and draw out serous fluids[241]. They are used in the treatment of disorders brought about by rotting sores or wounds[241]. Use with caution[21], the whole plant is extremely acrid and can cause intense pain and burning of the mouth, mucous membranes etc[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist loamy soil[1]. Grows well in marshy soils[24]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. A good plant for the summer meadow[24]. It spreads rapidly by means of runners and is often a weed in lawns or gardens. A polymorphic species, there is at least one named variety. 'Flore Pleno' is a double-flowered form that does not spread by runners and so is unlikely to become a nuisance in the garden[187]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. You are very unlikely to need to encourage this plant. Division in spring. Very easy, though probably totally unnecessary, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ranunculus acrisMeadow Buttercup, Tall buttercup, Showy buttercupPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHSNMWe120
Ranunculus aquatilisWater Crowfoot, White water crowfootAnnual/Perennial0.0 4-8  LMHSNMWeWa11 
Ranunculus arvensisCorn ButtercupAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHSNM010
Ranunculus bulbosusBulbous Buttercup, St. Anthony's turnipPerennial0.3 0-0 FLMHSNM120
Ranunculus californicusCalifornia ButtercupPerennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Ranunculus chinensisHui Hui SuanPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNMWe10 
Ranunculus ficariaLesser Celandine - Pilewort, Fig buttercupPerennial0.2 0-0 FLMHSNM123
Ranunculus flammulaLesser Spearwort, Greater creeping spearwortPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNMWeWa01 
Ranunculus hirtus Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM01 
Ranunculus inamoeusGraceful ButtercupPerennial0.3 -  LMHSNM10 
Ranunculus japonicusMao GenPerennial0.1 -  LMHSNM11 
Ranunculus kochii Perennial0.1 5-9  LMHNM10 
Ranunculus muricatusRough-Seed Buttercup, Spinyfruit buttercupAnnual0.3 0-0  LMHSNM01 
Ranunculus nipponicus Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNWeWa10 
Ranunculus occidentalisWestern ButtercupPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNM10 
Ranunculus pallasiiButtercup, Pallas' buttercupPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSNMWe10 
Ranunculus pennsylvanicusPennsylvania ButtercupAnnual/Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNMWe112
Ranunculus quelpaertensis Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNMWe10 
Ranunculus repensCreeping Buttercup, Prairie Double-flowered Buttercup, Water Buttercup, Creeping ButtercupPerennial0.3 3-8 FLMHSNM110
Ranunculus reptansCreeping SpearwortPerennial0.2 - FLMHSNMWe10 
Ranunculus rivularis Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM01 
Ranunculus sceleratusCelery-Leaved Buttercup, Cursed buttercupPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSNMWeWa111
Ranunculus tachreoi Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Ranunculus ternatus Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM01 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

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Subject : Ranunculus  
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