Meadow Buttercup
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species: Ranunculus acris L.
Common Names by Region
General / English: Meadow Buttercup, Tall Buttercup
North America: Meadow Buttercup
United Kingdom / Ireland: Meadow Buttercup
Agricultural Use: Tall Buttercup
Informal: Field Buttercup
Description
Growth Habit
Meadow buttercup is a tall, upright perennial herb that forms dense colonies in meadows, pastures, and unmanaged grasslands. Unlike creeping relatives, it does not spread via runners and instead expands slowly through seed and clumping crowns.
Plants typically rise above surrounding grasses, creating broad yellow displays during peak bloom.
Size
Height: 30–90 cm (12–36 in)
Spread: Variable; often forming large, continuous stands
Leaves
- Basal leaves: Deeply divided into 3–7 narrow, jagged lobes
- Lobes are sharply toothed and finger-like rather than rounded
- Upper stem leaves: Smaller, less divided, and more sparse
Leaf structure is one of the most reliable field identifiers for this species.
Stems
- Upright, stiff, and noticeably hairy, especially near the base
- No creeping stolons or runners
- Stems resist bending compared to other buttercups
Flowers
- Bright, glossy yellow with five overlapping petals
- Approximately 2–3 cm (¾–1 in) across
- Shallow cup shape with numerous central stamens
- Bloom period typically late spring through early summer
Known Range
Native to Europe and western Asia; widely naturalized across North America.
Common throughout:
- Meadows and hay fields
- Pastures
- Roadsides and field margins
- Open woodland edges
Prefers moist to moderately dry soils and full sun to partial shade.
Care / Habitat
- Thrives in unmown or lightly managed grasslands
- Tolerates a range of soils but favors nutrient-rich fields
- Declines under frequent mowing or heavy grazing pressure
Often associated with traditional hay meadows and older pasture systems.
Propagation / Reproduction
- Reproduces primarily by seed
- Seeds disperse locally via wind, water movement, and livestock traffic
- Plants are long-lived once established
Pests / Diseases / Threats
- Generally resistant to pests and diseases
- Suppressed by intensive pasture management
- Declines with conversion to monoculture turf or row crops
Livestock Toxicology
Important field note
Meadow buttercup contains ranunculin, which converts to protoanemonin when plant tissues are crushed or chewed.
- Fresh plants:
- Irritating and toxic to grazing livestock, particularly cattle and horses
- Causes mouth blistering, drooling, gastrointestinal distress
- Animals typically avoid it unless forage is scarce
- Dried plants (hay):
- Toxin degrades during drying
- Generally safe in cured hay
Buttercup presence can indicate overgrazed or poorly managed pasture, where livestock are forced to consume undesirable plants.
Additional Notes
- Presence in large numbers often signals low mowing frequency
- Co-occurs frequently with forget-me-nots (Myosotis spp.) and spring grasses
- Despite toxicity concerns, it plays a role in early-season pollinator support
- Visual dominance in spring meadows makes it an important ecological indicator species
Maintenance / Management
- Controlled through improved pasture density and rotational grazing
- Regular mowing before seed set reduces spread
- Not typically eradicated unless pasture productivity is a priority
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