Difference between revisions of "Buttercup" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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{{Taxobox
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| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Ranunculus''
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| image = Creeping butercup close 800.jpg
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| image_width = 250px
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| image_caption = [[Creeping buttercup]] (''Ranunculus repens'')
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
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| familia = [[Ranunculaceae]]
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| genus = '''''Ranunculus'''''
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
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| subdivision =
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over 400; see text
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}}
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[[Image:Ranunculus glacialis.jpg|thumb|240px|''[[Ranunculus glacialis]]'', one of the white-flowering species]]
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[[Image:Heart of gold.JPG|thumb|240px|Blooming outside [[Conservatory of Flowers]]]]
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[[Image:Ranunculus achenes.jpg|thumb|240px||Seed head of Ranunculus showing developing achenes]]
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'''''Ranunculus''''' is a large [[genus]] of about 400 [[species]] of [[plant]]s in the [[Ranunculaceae]]. It includes the '''buttercups''', '''spearworts''', '''water crowfoots''' and the  [[lesser celandine]]  (but not the [[greater celandine]] of the [[poppy]] family [[Papaveraceae]]).
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They are mostly [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant|perennial]]s with bright yellow or white [[flower]]s (if white, still with a yellow centre); some are [[Annual plant|annuals]] or [[Biennial plant|biennial]]s. A few have orange or red flowers and occasionally, as in ''R. auricomus'', petals may be absent.
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==Description==
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'''Ranunculaceae''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[flowering plants]] also known as the "buttercup family" or "crowfoot family". The family name is derived from the genus ''Ranunculus''. Members include ''[[Anemone]]'' (anemones), ''[[Ranunculus]]'' (buttercups), ''[[Aconitum]]'' (aconite), and ''[[Clematis]]''.
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According to the database of the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]], the family consists of 51 to 88 genera, totalling about 2500 species. Numerically the most important genera are ''[[Ranunculus]]'' (600 species), ''[[Delphinium]]'' (365 species), ''[[Thalictrum]]'' (330 species), ''[[Clematis]]'' (325 species), and ''[[Aconitum]]'' (300 species).
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Ranunculaceae are mostly herbaceous plants, but with some woody climbers (such as ''[[Clematis]]'') and subshrubs (e.g. ''[[Xanthorhiza]]'').
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'''[[Leaves]]''' are very often more or less palmately compound.
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The '''[[flower]]s''' of the ''Ranunculaceae'' show what are considered in some systems of plant taxonomy to be typically primitive characteristics, although the classification scheme of the [[APG II system|Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] considers this family to be among the most basal of the derived [[Eudicots]] clade. They are generally showy and medium to large in size in order to attract [[pollination syndrome|pollinators]] and are [[floral symmetry|actinomorphic]] or radially symmetrical, although in some genera (e. g. ''[[Aconitum]]'', ''[[Consolida]]'') they are [[floral symmetry|zygomorphic]] or bilaterally symmetrical. The [[perianth]] is made of one or, more commonly, two whorls, often not clearly differentiated into a true [[sepals|calyx]] and [[corolla]], the [[sepals]] may be joined  and the [[petals]] are often evolved into spurred [[nectaries]] or otherwise modified.
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The Water crowfoots (''Ranunculus'' subgenus ''Batrachium''), which grow in still or running water, are sometimes treated in a separate genus ''Batrachium''. They have two different leaf types, thread-like leaves underwater and broader floating leaves although for some species, such as ''R. aquatilis'', a third, intermediate leaf form occurs.
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Buttercups usually flower in April or May but flowers may be found throughout the summer especially where the plants are growing as opportunistic colonisers, as in the case of garden weeds.
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All ''Ranunculus'' species are [[poison]]ous when eaten fresh by [[cattle]], [[horse]]s, and other [[livestock]], but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. Poisoning can occur where buttercups are abundant in overgrazed fields where little other edible plant growth is left, and the animals eat them out of desperation. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, excessive salivation, [[horse colic|colic]], and severe blistering of the mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. When Ranunculus plants are handled, naturally occurring [[ranunculin]] is broken down to form [[protoanemonin]], which is known to cause contact [[dermatitis]] in humans and care should therefore be exercised in excessive handling of the plants[http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/BotDermFolder/BotDermR/RANU.html]. The toxins are degraded by drying, so [[hay]] containing dried buttercups is safe.
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''Ranunculus'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Hebrew Character]] and [[Small Angle Shades]].
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Some species are popular ornamental flowers in [[horticulture]], with many [[cultivar]]s selected for large and brightly coloured flowers.
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An old [[superstition]] says that if you hold a buttercup under your face, and yellow light is reflected on your face, it means that you like butter.
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In the interior of the Pacific Northwest of the United States the buttercup is called ‘Coyote’s eyes’ — ''iceyéeyenm sílu'' in [[Nez Perce]] and ''spilyaynmí áčaš'' in [[Sahaptin_language|Sahaptin]].  In the legend Coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them again when Eagle snatched them.  Unable to see, Coyote made eyes from the buttercup.
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===Partial species list===
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*''[[Ranunculus acraeus]]'' - a newly described species from [[Otago]], New Zealand
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*''[[Ranunculus acris]]'' - Meadow buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus alpestris]]''
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*''[[Ranunculus aquatilis]]'' - Common water crowfoot
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*''[[Ranunculus arvensis]]'' - Corn buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus asiaticus]]'' - Persian buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus auricomus]]'' - Goldilocks buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus bulbosus]]'' - Bulbous buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus californicus]]'' - California buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus cymbalaria]]'' - Marsh buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus ficaria]]'' - Lesser celandine
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*''[[Ranunculus flamula]]'' - Lesser spearwort
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*''[[Ranunculus fluitans]]'' - River water crowfoot
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*''[[Ranunculus glaberrimus]]'' - Sagebrush buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus glacialis]]'' - Glacier buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus hispidus]]'' - Bristly buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus lapponicus]]'' - Lapland buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus lingua]]'' - Greater spearwort
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*''[[Ranunculus lyallii]]'' - Mount Cook Lily - reputedly the largest buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus occidentalis]]'' - Western buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus peltatus]]'' - Pond water crowfoot
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*''[[Ranunculus platanifolius]]'' - Large white buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus pygmaeus]]'' - Pygmy buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus repens]]'' - Creeping buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus sardous]]'' - Sardinian buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus sceleratus]]'' - Celery-leaved buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus septentrionalis]]'' - Swamp buttercup
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*''[[Ranunculus sieboldii]]'' (ref. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16395649&query_hl=46&itool=pubmed_docsum])
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*''[[Ranunculus testiculatus]]'' - Bur buttercup
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and many more
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{{commons|Ranunculus}}
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[[Category:Life sciences]]
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[[Category:Plants]]
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{{credit|Ranunculus|163065097|Ranunculaceae|164958522}}

Revision as of 19:23, 27 October 2007


Ranunculus
Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
L.
Species

over 400; see text

Ranunculus glacialis, one of the white-flowering species
Blooming outside Conservatory of Flowers
Seed head of Ranunculus showing developing achenes

Ranunculus is a large genus of about 400 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae. It includes the buttercups, spearworts, water crowfoots and the lesser celandine (but not the greater celandine of the poppy family Papaveraceae).

They are mostly herbaceous perennials with bright yellow or white flowers (if white, still with a yellow centre); some are annuals or biennials. A few have orange or red flowers and occasionally, as in R. auricomus, petals may be absent.


Description

Ranunculaceae is a family of flowering plants also known as the "buttercup family" or "crowfoot family". The family name is derived from the genus Ranunculus. Members include Anemone (anemones), Ranunculus (buttercups), Aconitum (aconite), and Clematis.

According to the database of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the family consists of 51 to 88 genera, totalling about 2500 species. Numerically the most important genera are Ranunculus (600 species), Delphinium (365 species), Thalictrum (330 species), Clematis (325 species), and Aconitum (300 species).

Ranunculaceae are mostly herbaceous plants, but with some woody climbers (such as Clematis) and subshrubs (e.g. Xanthorhiza).

Leaves are very often more or less palmately compound.

The flowers of the Ranunculaceae show what are considered in some systems of plant taxonomy to be typically primitive characteristics, although the classification scheme of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group considers this family to be among the most basal of the derived Eudicots clade. They are generally showy and medium to large in size in order to attract pollinators and are actinomorphic or radially symmetrical, although in some genera (e. g. Aconitum, Consolida) they are zygomorphic or bilaterally symmetrical. The perianth is made of one or, more commonly, two whorls, often not clearly differentiated into a true calyx and corolla, the sepals may be joined and the petals are often evolved into spurred nectaries or otherwise modified.


The Water crowfoots (Ranunculus subgenus Batrachium), which grow in still or running water, are sometimes treated in a separate genus Batrachium. They have two different leaf types, thread-like leaves underwater and broader floating leaves although for some species, such as R. aquatilis, a third, intermediate leaf form occurs.

Buttercups usually flower in April or May but flowers may be found throughout the summer especially where the plants are growing as opportunistic colonisers, as in the case of garden weeds.

All Ranunculus species are poisonous when eaten fresh by cattle, horses, and other livestock, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. Poisoning can occur where buttercups are abundant in overgrazed fields where little other edible plant growth is left, and the animals eat them out of desperation. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, excessive salivation, colic, and severe blistering of the mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. When Ranunculus plants are handled, naturally occurring ranunculin is broken down to form protoanemonin, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in humans and care should therefore be exercised in excessive handling of the plants[1]. The toxins are degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe.

Ranunculus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hebrew Character and Small Angle Shades.

Some species are popular ornamental flowers in horticulture, with many cultivars selected for large and brightly coloured flowers.

An old superstition says that if you hold a buttercup under your face, and yellow light is reflected on your face, it means that you like butter.

In the interior of the Pacific Northwest of the United States the buttercup is called ‘Coyote’s eyes’ — iceyéeyenm sílu in Nez Perce and spilyaynmí áčaš in Sahaptin. In the legend Coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them again when Eagle snatched them. Unable to see, Coyote made eyes from the buttercup.

Partial species list

  • Ranunculus acraeus - a newly described species from Otago, New Zealand
  • Ranunculus acris - Meadow buttercup
  • Ranunculus alpestris
  • Ranunculus aquatilis - Common water crowfoot
  • Ranunculus arvensis - Corn buttercup
  • Ranunculus asiaticus - Persian buttercup
  • Ranunculus auricomus - Goldilocks buttercup
  • Ranunculus bulbosus - Bulbous buttercup
  • Ranunculus californicus - California buttercup
  • Ranunculus cymbalaria - Marsh buttercup
  • Ranunculus ficaria - Lesser celandine
  • Ranunculus flamula - Lesser spearwort
  • Ranunculus fluitans - River water crowfoot
  • Ranunculus glaberrimus - Sagebrush buttercup
  • Ranunculus glacialis - Glacier buttercup
  • Ranunculus hispidus - Bristly buttercup
  • Ranunculus lapponicus - Lapland buttercup
  • Ranunculus lingua - Greater spearwort
  • Ranunculus lyallii - Mount Cook Lily - reputedly the largest buttercup
  • Ranunculus occidentalis - Western buttercup
  • Ranunculus peltatus - Pond water crowfoot
  • Ranunculus platanifolius - Large white buttercup
  • Ranunculus pygmaeus - Pygmy buttercup
  • Ranunculus repens - Creeping buttercup
  • Ranunculus sardous - Sardinian buttercup
  • Ranunculus sceleratus - Celery-leaved buttercup
  • Ranunculus septentrionalis - Swamp buttercup
  • Ranunculus sieboldii (ref. [2])
  • Ranunculus testiculatus - Bur buttercup

and many more

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