Ranunculus bulbosus

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Ranunculus bulbosus
Ranunculus bulbosus.jpeg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species: R. bulbosus
Binomial name
Ranunculus bulbosus

Ranunculus bulbosus, commonly known as St Anthony's turnip or bulbous buttercup, is a perennial member of the Buttercup Family. It has attractive yellow flowers, and deeply divided, three-lobed long-petioled basal leaves. Bulbous buttercup is known to form tufts.


The “Bulb” of the Bulbous Buttercup

The stems are 20–60 cm tall, erect, branching, and slightly hairy flowering.[1] There are alternate and sessile leaves on the stem. The flower forms at the apex of the stems, and is shiny and yellow with 5–7 petals.[1] The flowers are 1.5–3 cm wide. The plant blooms from April to July.


Bulbous buttercup gets its name from its distinctive perennating organ, a bulb-like swollen underground stem or corm, which is situated just below the soil surface. After the plant dies in heat of summer, the corm survives underground through the winter.[2][3] Although the presence of a corm distinguishes Ranunculus bulbosus from some other species of buttercup such as Ranunculus acris, the species also has distinctive reflexed sepals.

Cultivation and uses[edit]


Bulbous buttercup grows in lawns, pastures and fields in general, preferring nutrient-poor, well-drained soils. Although it doesn't generally grow in proper crops or improved grassland, it is often found in hay fields[4] and in coastal grassland. The native range of Ranunculus bulbosus is Western Europe between about 60°N and the Northern Mediterranean coast. It grows in both the eastern and western parts of North America as an introduced weed.[5]

Chemical constituents[edit]



  1. ^ a b c RH Uva, JC Neal and JM Ditomaso (1997) Weeds of The Northeast, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. pp. 294-295
  2. ^ S Coles (1973) Ranunculus bulbosus L in Europe. Watsonia 9: 207-228
  3. ^ J Sarukhan (1974) Studies on plant demography: Ranunculus Repens L., R. Bulbosus L. and R. Acris L.: II. Reproductive strategies and seed population dynamics. The Journal of Ecology: 151-177
  4. ^ Bulbous Buttercup: Ranunculus bulbosus
  5. ^ Weed management

External links[edit]