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Ranunculus acris L. Buttercup, tall buttercup, meadow buttercup, common buttercup
Buttercups are natives of Europe and temperate portions of Eurasia, and possibly Greenland and Alaska. It has been introduced to North America and Australia, where it is naturalized and widespread, even invasive in some regions. Ever wondered why buttercups have such bright, shiny flowers? You might be surprised to know that people have speculated about this for over a century, and that researchers recently discovered a possibly unique mechanism for the strong yellow reflection. The article, published in the Royal Society journal Interface, is summarized by Science Daily. Identification: Buttercups are 1-3′ (30-91 cm) high, with leaves on stalks near the base, and smaller, less lobed upper leaves on the stems that bear flowers. Stems are usually hairy, hollow, and with few leaves. Flowers are bright yellow, sometimes with an orange tint, and often shiny, with five petals and a yellow center, about ⅞″ (2.5 cm) across. They appear from May to September.
Basal leaves are deeply divided. Edibility: Poisonous Online References:
The King County Washington Noxious Weeds list Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium
6/22/2023 · Florida Lake Park, Freeport, Maine
6/16/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm)
6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
6/16/2012 · Brown St., Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 6″ (9.4 × 14 cm)
6/16/2012 · Brown St., Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
Ranunculus acris description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.
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6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm)
5/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm)
6/16/2013 · Sonny and Donna’s, Tenant’s Harbor, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
6/16/2012 · Brown St., Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
5/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)
5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
5/29/2010 · Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 3 × 2′ (93 × 62 cm)
6/14/2008 · Grays, North Monmouth, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (65 × 43 cm) Range:
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All members of the buttercup
family are poisonous. Extremely bitter. Causes salivation, skin irritation, blisters, abdominal
distress, inflammation, and diarrhea.
ID is uncertain 
