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Ranunculus_pennsylvanicus - L.f.

Common Name Pennsylvania Buttercup
Family Ranunculaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards Although no specific record of toxicity has been found for this plant, many if not all members of this genus are poisonous. These toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. Many if not all plants in this genus also have a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].
Habitats Wet meadows, alluvium, ditches etc[43]. Stream banks, bogs, moist clearings, depressions in woodlands from sea level to 1700 metres[270].
Range Northern N. America - Labrador to Alaska and south to Colorado.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ranunculus_pennsylvanicus Pennsylvania Buttercup


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 2
Ranunculus_pennsylvanicus Pennsylvania Buttercup
Edward G. Voss @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, Sacramento.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Ranunculus_pennsylvanicus is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
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 or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Ranunculus pensylvanicus

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[179]. The leaves contain toxins but in too low a concentration to be harmful[179].

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 plant is rubefacient[240]. It is used to raise blisters[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The entire plant can be boiled to yield a red dye[257]. It is mixed with the bark of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) which acts to fix the colour[257]. The entire plant can be boiled with rushes (Juncus spp) or flags (Iris spp and Acorus calamus) to colour them yellow for use in making mats, baskets etc[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a moist loamy soil[1]. 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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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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 pennsylvanicusPennsylvania ButtercupAnnual/Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNMWe112

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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.f.

Botanical References

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Links / References

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

Readers comment

   Dec 17 2010 12:00AM

A great deal more information about this plant and its cousins can be found in Charlotte Erichsen-Brown's 1979 'Medicinal and other uses of North American Plants', also published under the title 'Use of Plants for the past 500 years'.

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