Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
Flowers: yellow.
In bloom: May-September.
Life Cycle: perennial.
Size: two to three feet tall.
An attractive herb with dark green, stemless leaves that have five to seven divided toothed segments. Leaves alternate on slender, hairy, branching stalks. Flowers can bloom solitary or in clusters from long, slender, hairy stems. Flowers produce five to seven overlapping petals that have a waxy texture and a glossy surface, and are supported by hairy sepals. Seedpods appear in clusters, they are small, smooth and have a prominent hooked beak. Each pod produces a single seed. The rootstock is a fibrous mass.
Habitat: fields, meadows, pastures, roadsides.
Poisonous parts: juices of the fresh herb.
Symptoms: juices cause severe dermatitis. Ingesting the fresh herb causes burning blisters, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis of the nervous system, damage to the digestive system.
Medicinal uses: leaf extract tincture for arthritis, rheumatism; taproot poultice for blisters, abscesses.
Notes: the juice of Ranunculus acris is highly irritating and can cause extensive internal damage. Cooking or drying expels its toxins which allow the greens to be used for food, and the dried seeds can be used for making baked goods. However, this herb is considered dangerous and its use is not recommended. |
