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Ranunculus_bulbosus - L.

Common Name Bulbous Buttercup, St. Anthony's turnip
Family Ranunculaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards All parts of the plant are poisonous, the toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. The plant has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].
Habitats Meadows, lawns, dry pastures, grassy slopes and fixed dunes, preferring a calcareous sub-strata[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and Greece.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ranunculus_bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup, St. Anthony


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_spp_Sturm51.jpg
Ranunculus_bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup, St. Anthony
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Llez

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Ranunculus_bulbosus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from March to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked. A famine food used when all else fails[177], and I would rather give it a miss even then[K]! Root - must be dried beforehand and thoroughly cooked[105, 183]. When boiled, the roots are said to become so mild as to be eatable[2], though personally, I would rather give this one a miss as well[K]. See the notes above on toxicity.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The whole plant, and especially the sap, is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, rubefacient[4, 21]. It was at one time rubbed on the skin by beggars in order to produce open sores and thereby excite sympathy[4]. The root has been placed in a tooth cavity to act as a painkiller[257]. A decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of VD[257]. Use this remedy with caution, see the notes above on toxicity[21].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist loamy soil[1]. A common weed of lawns and gardens, it can be very difficult to eradicate when established[4]. It is a polymorphic species[17] and there is at least one named variety which has been selected for its ornamental value[187]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. This species is a common weed and doesn't really need any help from us. Division in spring. Very easy, though probably totally unnecessary, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland (south), United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway (south), Sweden (south), Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation-European part (European part (c.)), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (w. & Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Egypt (north), Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ranunculus bulbosusBulbous Buttercup, St. Anthony's turnipPerennial0.3 0-0 FLMHSNM120

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Andy Horton   Wed May 19 05:54:59 2004

What is the toxin(s) called?

   Apr 14 2011 12:00AM

@Andy Horton: I believe the toxin is ranunculin.

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