Edge/ Bulbous Buttercup

COMMON NAME: Bulbous Buttercup

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Small frog ~ Biting Crowfoot ~ Butter-Cress ~ Gold-Knobs ~ Yellow-Weed ~ Cuckoo-Buds

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ranunculus bulbosus

FAMILY: Ranunculaceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Naturalized  Native of Europe

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: 8 inches to 2 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Late April to Mid-June

FRUITING TIME: to Late August

DISTRIBUTION: Throughout the United States ~ Statewide in NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Flowers are large golden yellow, 5 sepals hanging down, 5 petals ~ Fruit has short curve beak ~ Basal leaves are long triangular ~ Stem branched and thickens at the base

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family (Ranunculaceae) commonly called the Buttercup or Crowfoot family consists of 58 genera and about 1750 species of herbs, shrubs and woody vines  found in boreal and temperate regions.  Many species are cultivated as ornamentals including Clematis, Columbine and Delphinium.  Ranunculus is Latin for “a small frog” presumably alluding to the watery habitat of the species. Shakespeare wrote of the Bulbous Buttercup: “Cuckoo-buds of yellow hue do paint the meadows with delight” (Love’s Labour’s Lost). The 1998 edition of the Physicians’ Deck Reference for Herbal Medicines reports that the herb is used in homeopathy for skin diseases, rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, influenza, and meningitis.  Extended skin contact with the freshly-harvested specimens can lead to blister formation.  If taken internally, severe irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, combined with diarrhea, as well as irritation upon urination may occur.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.