Common or meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
Tall Buttercup
Perennial Flower
Tall Buttercup
Perennial Flower
DESCRIPTION:
This common, sometimes invasive flower, covers open meadows in mid summer.
Flower
The flowers form on branches coming off the stem and are 1-5 inches tall. The flower itself includes 5 (sometimes up to 8) glossy yellow petals that form around the bulb in a rose like pattern. The petals are half an inch long and round, about the size of your pinky nail. In early spring the petals hug the center of the flower, by summer time they are stretched out and facing up towards the sky.
DESCRIPTION:
This common, sometimes invasive flower, covers open meadows in mid summer.
Flower
The flowers form on branches coming off the stem and are 1-5 inches tall. The flower itself includes 5 (sometimes up to 8) glossy yellow petals that form around the bulb in a rose like pattern. The petals are half an inch long and round, about the size of your pinky nail. In early spring the petals hug the center of the flower, by summer time they are stretched out and facing up towards the sky.
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WHOLE PLANT:
Stem
Each plant grows several stems, each reaching 1-3 feet tall. Small hairs grow around the stems and on the individual flower branches. The stem color ranges depending on the age and size of the plant. Newer and skinner stems are a bright green, while mature and thicker stems are brown or murky green.
Stem
Each plant grows several stems, each reaching 1-3 feet tall. Small hairs grow around the stems and on the individual flower branches. The stem color ranges depending on the age and size of the plant. Newer and skinner stems are a bright green, while mature and thicker stems are brown or murky green.
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Leaves
Many leaves form at the base of the stems and straight from the root. Each species has a slightly different leaf shape but the most common are heart or lance shaped. The leaves are around 1-3 inches long near the base of the stem. As the leaves travel up the stem they get smaller in size and grow on opposite sides. The leaves start dying after the flower starts to bloom.
Many leaves form at the base of the stems and straight from the root. Each species has a slightly different leaf shape but the most common are heart or lance shaped. The leaves are around 1-3 inches long near the base of the stem. As the leaves travel up the stem they get smaller in size and grow on opposite sides. The leaves start dying after the flower starts to bloom.
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Roots
The roots are short and tend to end abruptly underneath the surface. They do go very wide around, up to three feet in diameter and break off to grow other plants. This creates the clusters we see and why this flower spreads so far.
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Common buttercups grow in a wide array of places. They prefer lots of sunlight, so they're typically found in pastures, meadows, roadsides, and sparse forests.
Common buttercups grow in a wide array of places. They prefer lots of sunlight, so they're typically found in pastures, meadows, roadsides, and sparse forests.
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WHEN TO FIND IT:
Buttercups are some of the first blooms to be found in the Spring! They bloom around March and April and last about 2 months.
Buttercups are some of the first blooms to be found in the Spring! They bloom around March and April and last about 2 months.
