Buttercup or buttercup is one of the ornamental plants that is less valued in the garden and more appreciated in meadows and on river banks. It differs from other plants that can be found in flower meadows due to some special features.
What are the special features of buttercup?
The special features of buttercup include its preference for acidic, moist soils, its characteristic two-lobed or three-lobed leaves, which give the buttercup its name, shiny yellow flowers, its toxicity due to the protoanemonin it contains and its likelihood of being confused with cinquefoil.
Ranunculus copes well with moist locations
Buttercup likes acidic and moist soil. The roots are very robust and can even cope with short periods of waterlogging. That's why the buttercup is so often found in damp meadows along rivers and on the edges of ponds.
The most common species is the buttercup, which grows almost anywhere where the soil is acidic enough.
The leaves gave the buttercup its name
The name buttercup comes from its leaves:
- two or three lobed
- green
- divided or feathered
Depending on the species, they are two or three lobed and somewhat resemble the foot of a rooster. The leaves can be divided or pinnate.
In some regions, especially northern Germany, buttercups are known as buttercups. This is probably due to the shiny, yellow flowers of the buttercup.
That's why buttercup is poisonous
Buttercup contains protoanemonin in all parts of the plant. The concentration is particularly high in flowers and roots. The individual species vary in their toxicity, some contain hardly any toxins.
Ranunculus should not be picked with bare hands or fought in the garden, as even contact with the plant sap can trigger inflammatory reactions on the skin. Fresh buttercups are not allowed to be consumed. When dried, the poison breaks down.
Distinguishing buttercups from cinquefoil
In nature, buttercup is often confused with cinquefoil, which blooms at the same time and also produces yellow flowers.
However, the difference can be seen in the flowers. Although both types of plants usually have five petals, they differ from each other. The nectar leaves of the buttercup are very shiny and are also surrounded by five bracts. Cinquefoil flowers appear rather dull.
Tip
The buttercup family includes a whole range of plants that look very different at first glance. These include, for example, marsh marigold, pasque flower and ranunculus. The climbing plant clematis also belongs to the buttercup genus.
