Ranunculus acris - Meadow Buttercup

Family:	Ranunculaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Synonyms:	R. acer.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, through Asia to China and Japan.

Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 0and is vunerable to frost.
Meadow Buttercup will flower in November to January. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, lepidoptera

Soil Information

Meadow Buttercup will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Meadow Buttercup prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Meadow Buttercup can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Damp meadows, usually on calcareous soils[4, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Prefers a moist loamy soil[1]. Grows well in marshy soils[24]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. A good plant for the summer meadow[24]. It spreads rapidly by means of runners and is often a weed in lawns or gardens. A polymorphic species, there is at least one named variety. 'Flore Pleno' is a double-flowered form that does not spread by runners and so is unlikely to become a nuisance in the garden[187]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Leaves - cooked and used as greens[257]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The whole plant is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and rubefacient[4, 21]. The plant has been crushed and applied as a poultice to the chest to relieve colds and chest pains[257]. The fresh leaves have been used as a rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism etc[222]. The flowers and the leaves have been crushed and sniffed as a treatment for headaches[257]. An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[257]. The poulticed root is also rubefacient and was applied to boils and abscess[222, 257]. The plant sap has been used to remove warts[4]. The sap has also been used as a sedative[257]. The flowers are used in Tibetan medicine, where they are considered to have an acrid taste and a heating potency[241]. Their use is said to promote heat, dissolve tumours and draw out serous fluids[241]. They are used in the treatment of disorders brought about by rotting sores or wounds[241]. Use with caution[21], the whole plant is extremely acrid and can cause intense pain and burning of the mouth, mucous membranes etc[222].

• Acrid - Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.
• Anodyne - Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Rubefacient - A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
• Warts - Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. You are very unlikely to need to encourage this plant. Division in spring. Very easy, though probably totally unnecessary, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous, the toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. The plant has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

'' - There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

DISCLAIMER: All information published on AussieGardening.com.au is for entertainment purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained here with other sources. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by doctors or dietary advice by dieticians. AussieGardening.com.au will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.