# hairy buttercup (*Ranunculus sardous*) The hairy buttercup is a bright yellow flower that loves to grow in grassy places. Its fuzzy leaves and cheerful blooms make it a lovely sight in spring and summer! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![hairy buttercup](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ranunculus_sardous_detail.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 11:51, 16 June 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_sardous_detail.jpeg) ## Appearance The hairy buttercup has bright, glossy yellow flowers, typically with five petals, that stand out against its deeply lobed, often bristly leaves. Its robust, somewhat hairy stems give it a rougher texture compared to smoother buttercup species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Ranunculus ## Interesting facts - Crushing its leaves can release a skin-irritating, blistering sap! - Each tiny seed can stay hidden in the soil for many years, waiting to grow! - Farmers dislike it because it can make hay inedible for livestock. - Its bright petals are so shiny, they almost look like polished gold! ## Special abilities - **Chemical Shield:** Hairy buttercup has a toxic sap (protoanemonin) that makes it taste bad, helping it defend against hungry animals. - **Shine Bright Beacon:** Its waxy, glossy petals reflect sunlight and UV light, acting like a beacon to attract helpful pollinating insects. - **Speedy Sprouter:** As an annual, it can grow and bloom quickly in open or disturbed areas, helping it colonize new spots fast. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Western honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Common carder bee (*Bombus pascuorum*) — A common bumblebee gathering resources from its blooms. - **Eats:** Buttercup leafminer (*Liriomyza ranunculi*) — Larvae mine tunnels within its leaves. - **Eaten by:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — Ingestion of fresh plants can sicken grazing horses. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [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 flowers without asking an adult, as some can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify hairy 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 hairy buttercup? 10-60 cm ### How wide does hairy buttercup spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on hairy buttercup? 1-2.5 cm ### When does hairy buttercup bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is hairy buttercup edible? No ### Is hairy buttercup toxic? Moderate ### What is hairy buttercup's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Charlotte Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlotte-street-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Cairo Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cairo-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Fort Defiance](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-defiance) — Illinois, US · Historic Site [View all places to see hairy buttercup](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-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: [Hairy Buttercup: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-buttercup)