Ranunculus Species, Giant Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Showy Buttercup, Tall Buttercup

Ranunulus acris is one of the more commonly introduced perennial buttercups which varies in appearance worldwide. Ranunculus is Latin fo...Read Morer "little frog" - frogs, and supposedly buttercups, live near water. The leaves and stems contain an acrid poisonous juice which protects the plant from herbivorous animals, and if ingested can cause inflammation and swelling.
Though a golden meadow of buttercups is a lovely site to see, in New Zealand they are a pasture weed costing the dairy industry greatly, and they are one of the few pasture weeds that have built up a resistance to herbicides.
As children we would hold a buttercup flower under our chin, and depending on the shade of your skin the buttercup would reflect its yellow, which was taken to mean that you loved butter. A lovely child's game.

This is my favorite plant. I haven't found it to be invasive yet. So far it has stayed in it's place. I love the glossy yellow flowers an...Read Mored it's so happy in my garden. I grew it last year from seed. It has bloomed for the first time in April. Very very lovely plant.