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Ranunculaceae
Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
Childhood and cheerfulness.
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus
- Ranunculus
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- herbaceous
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- moist, fertile, loamy
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 4-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The children's game of holding a buttercup under the chin to see a yellow reflection supposedly reveals if you like butter.
- The intense yellow sheen comes from a unique double-layer structure in the petals that reflects light like a mirror.
- Despite their cheerful appearance, all parts of the plant are toxic to livestock, containing the irritant protoanemonin.
- The species name 'acris' means 'sharp' or 'pungent' referring to the acrid taste that deters grazing animals.
- Buttercup petals have been shown to reflect ultraviolet light in patterns visible to pollinators but invisible to the human eye.
Color meanings
0
childhood joy
1
cheerfulness
2
humility
3
neatness