Woolly Buttercup

Ranunculus lanuginosus

Woolly Buttercup is a bright yellow flower that loves to grow in wet places. Its fuzzy leaves and cheerful blooms make it a lovely sight in springtime!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Woolly Buttercup has striking bright yellow, glossy flowers with five petals, perched on tall, fuzzy stems. Its deeply lobed leaves are covered in soft hairs, giving it a distinctive 'woolly' texture different from most other buttercups.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusRanunculus

Woolly Buttercup

Interesting facts

If you hold a buttercup under your chin and it casts a yellow glow, it means you like butter!

Its name *Ranunculus* means 'little frog' because it often loves to grow near wet places!

The petals are so shiny, they can actually reflect sunlight, making the flowers seem to glow!

The tiny hairs on its stem and leaves make it feel fuzzy, almost like a plant wearing a soft coat!

Special abilities

Woolly Buttercup has soft, hairy stems and leaves that protect it from cold and help it keep water in dry weather.

Woolly Buttercup creates a bitter, irritating sap that discourages hungry animals from eating its leaves and flowers.

Woolly Buttercup has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread easily and survive tough conditions.

Measurements & details

Height: 20-60 cm
Spread: 15-30 cm
Flower Size: 1.5-2.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Moderate
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honeybee

Apis mellifera

gathers nectar and pollen

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

visits flowers for nectar

eaten by

Black slug

Arion ater

may occasionally graze on leaves

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.