# bulbous buttercup (*Ranunculus bulbosus*) The bulbous buttercup is a bright yellow flower that blooms in spring and summer. Its shiny petals look like little cups and can be found in meadows and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![bulbous buttercup](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2015.05.08.-06-Kaefertaler_Wald-Mannheim--Knolliger_Hahnenfuss.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2015.05.08.-06-Kaefertaler_Wald-Mannheim--Knolliger_Hahnenfuss.jpg) ## Appearance The bulbous buttercup has glossy, vibrant yellow petals that look like polished gold, typically five per flower. Its deeply lobed leaves are often hairy and a vibrant green. It is visually distinct from other buttercups by its noticeably swollen, bulb-like stem base. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Ranunculus ## Interesting facts - Its sap can cause blisters if it touches your skin. - Rubbing its petals can make them shine even brighter, like tiny mirrors! - The flowers track the sun, always facing its warmth! - This plant hides a 'bulb' at its base, helping it live many years. ## Special abilities - **Toxic Defense:** Bulbous buttercup has a toxic compound that deters most grazing animals from eating its leaves, helping it survive. - **Shiny Signal:** Its incredibly glossy petals reflect UV light, creating a bright signal that attracts pollinating insects like bees and flies. - **Energy Bulb:** The bulbous buttercup has a swollen stem base that stores energy, helping it survive harsh conditions and regrow each year. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Feeds on nectar and pollen. - **Shelter:** [Meadow spittlebug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-spittlebug) (*Philaenus spumarius*) — Larvae create protective "spit". ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any part of the flower, as it can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bulbous buttercup? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bulbous buttercup? 20-60 cm ### How wide does bulbous buttercup spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on bulbous buttercup? 2-3 cm ### When does bulbous buttercup bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is bulbous buttercup edible? No ### Is bulbous buttercup toxic? Mild ### What is bulbous buttercup's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Awbury Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/awbury-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Copicut Woods](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/copicut-woods) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Fox Chase Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fox-chase-farm) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Forestdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forestdale) — Rhode Island, US · Neighborhood - [Ladew Topiary Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ladew-topiary-gardens) — Maryland, US · Botanical Garden - [Slocum's River Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/slocums-river-reserve) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see bulbous buttercup](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bulbous-buttercup) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bulbous Buttercup: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bulbous-buttercup)