Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup

A very familiar perennial herb which grows in damp meadows, pastures, roadside verges, sand dunes and in tall herb communities along forest roads and on mountains. It occurs throughout Britain and Ireland and is one of our most common buttercups. It is able to grow on acidic and basic soils and is generally a good indicator of mesotrophic conditions. It differs from Creeping Butteercup (Ranunculus repens) in its very divided leaves (see photos) and the flower stalks which are not grooved (see photo and description of Ranunculus repens). Toxins present in its leaves include the cardiac glycoside ranunculin, which is present in large amounts in plants at the time of flowering and which breaks down to protoanemonin when the leaves are crushed or chewed. Protoanemonin is not readily absorbed by nor metabolised in the gastrointestinal tract and most of its effects are oral. Symptoms include severe, painful irritation in the mouth, salivation and blistering. Grazing animals avoid eating buttercups for this reason and large, striking displays often occur in horse-grazed fields. It is found throughout West Glamorgan and is usually abundant where it occurs.

Native