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meadow buttercup

Ranunculus acris

Meadow buttercups are bright yellow flowers that grow in fields and meadows. They have shiny petals that look like little cups, and they bloom in the spring and summer, making the fields look cheerful!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The meadow buttercup has bright, glossy yellow flowers, each with five distinct, overlapping petals. Its deeply lobed leaves form a basal rosette, and its stems are typically hairy. It stands out with its vibrant, waxy appearance in grassy areas.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusRanunculus

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

9

Interesting facts

Each buttercup flower can produce many tiny, single-seeded fruits called achenes, spreading widely!

Holding a buttercup under your chin was a fun game to see if you "liked butter" when you were a kid!

Its genus name, Ranunculus, means "little frog" because many buttercup species like to grow near water.

The glossy petals of buttercups can reflect sunlight, making them glow almost like tiny mirrors!

Special abilities

Ability

Shiny Signal

Meadow buttercup has super glossy petals that reflect UV light, helping it attract busy pollinating insects.

Ability

Toxic Shield

Meadow buttercup can produce a bitter, mildly toxic chemical to protect itself from hungry animals.

Ability

Wind Wiggler

Meadow buttercup has flexible stems that allow it to sway in the wind without breaking in open fields.

Measurements & details

Height
30-70 cm
Spread
15-30 cm
Flower Size
1.5-2.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early autumn
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen

Pollinates

Common carder bee

Bombus pascuorum

Visits flowers for nectar

Pollinates

Drone Fly

Eristalis tenax

Feeds on nectar

Eats

Spanish slug

Arion lusitanicus

Grazes on leaves and stems

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

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 meadow 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 meadow buttercup?

30-70 cm

How wide does meadow buttercup spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on meadow buttercup?

1.5-2.5 cm

When does meadow buttercup bloom?

Late spring to early autumn

Is meadow buttercup edible?

No

Is meadow buttercup toxic?

Mild

What is meadow buttercup's lifecycle?

Perennial

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