If you roam wild meadows in late spring, you will probably come across them quite often, the buttercup. Many people are familiar with this perennial plant. But what do you actually know about this flower? Here you can refresh your knowledge!

The buttercup grows wild in our meadows and forests

The buttercup - clear in short form

  • Plant Family: Ranunculaceae
  • Natural range: Europe to Asia
  • Occurrence: pastures, meadows, roadsides, forest edges, bushes
  • Growth: 20 to 100 cm high, upright, herbaceous
  • leaves: palmate, three to five parts
  • Flowering period: May to July
  • flowers: in fives, hermaphrodite, golden yellow
  • Fruits: single-seeded nuts
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: calcareous, nutritious, moist
  • Special features: poisonous

A sharp taste indicates toxins

All parts of the buttercup are poisonous. Don't confuse this buttercup with the dandelion, also known as the buttercup depending on the region because of its buttery yellow flowers. The dandelion also contains a milky juice. But his is not poisonous.

Another name for the buttercup is hot ranunculus. Like all buttercup plants, the buttercup has various toxins, most of which are found in its stems and roots. The poison called protoanemonin, which is noticeable through a sharp taste, stands out strongly.

That's how she can be recognized!

Long fibrous roots grow up to 50 cm long in the ground. Strongly branched stems rise from them, which can reach a height of between 20 and 100 cm. The erect stems have palmate basal leaves below and smaller stem leaves above. The leaves are three to five parts and green.

Buttercup blossoms between May and July. These are fivefold, hermaphroditic and radially symmetrical flowers. Sometimes they can be seen until September. The flowers, which are composed of five obovate petals, among others, are between 2 and 3 cm wide and stand individually on loose panicles.

The shape of the flower is rounded, flat and wide open. A bright golden yellow is characteristic of them. It has a greasy shine. The fruits develop from the flowers between July and October. They are single-seeded nuts that are flat and inconspicuous.

tips

There are also double-flowering varieties on the market that have a particularly high ornamental value.

Category:

Herbs