tall meadow buttercup

plant

Also known as: Ranunculus acris

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The tall meadow buttercup, scientifically known as Ranunculus acris, is a species of herbaceous flowering plant belonging to the genus Ranunculus. This genus, with approximately 300 species, is part of the Ranunculaceae family and is found globally, particularly in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.1

The tall meadow buttercup is native to Eurasia but has been widely introduced elsewhere. It is characterized by its glossy yellow flowers, which typically have five sepals and numerous petals, stamens, and pistils. The leaves of this species are quite variable. The term "meadow buttercup" can also refer to the tall buttercup or the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris).12

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wildflower
…best-known buttercups of northern Europe, Ranunculus acris, probably became more abundant and widespread as the forests were burned away. In the lowlands of northern Europe, this species probably became modified during the Stone Age into some new forms better adapted to habitats created by human actions. Two forms occurring in…
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…best-known buttercups of northern Europe, Ranunculus acris, probably became more abundant and widespread as the forests were burned away. In the lowlands of northern Europe, this species probably became modified during the Stone Age into some new forms better adapted to habitats created by human actions. Two forms occurring in…
Read More

buttercup
Major species
…many wild species are the tall meadow buttercup (R. acris), native to Eurasia but widely introduced elsewhere; the swamp buttercup (R. hispidis) of eastern North American wetlands; and the Eurasian creeping buttercup, or butter daisy (R. repens), widely naturalized in America. Both the pond crowfoot (R.
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…many wild species are the tall meadow buttercup (R. acris), native to Eurasia but widely introduced elsewhere; the swamp buttercup (R. hispidis) of eastern North American wetlands; and the Eurasian creeping buttercup, or butter daisy (R. repens), widely naturalized in America. Both the pond crowfoot (R.
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