I always like to refer to flowering weeds as the lazy man’s garden. They spring up year round, no effort required, and dot an otherwise green and unkempt lawn with bright pops of color. One example is the common buttercup- scientifically named Ranunculus acris. The name Ranunculus is late Latin for "little frog," the diminutive of rana. This probably refers to many species of this genus being found near water. When it comes to having weeds, people tend to go both ways. I tend to lean away from the flat-green aesthetic of middle class suburbia; for me, weeds only serve to increase the beauty of a landscape. While they may intrude on some otherwise domesticated plants, they only serve to increase the biodiversity of an area. These flowers can be found in the North Atlantic and Eurasia, as well in our own Rand park.
The buttercup plant is a hermaphrodite, meaning it contains both male and female parts- necessary in sexual reproduction. It has five overlapping petals borne above five green sepals that soon turn yellow as the flower matures. Ranunculus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (moth) species. The petals are often highly lustrous, especially in yellow species. This luster produces a fun glowing effect when you hold them up to your chin. This natural phenomena has become common in a kid’s game- if your chin glows when you put a buttercup under it, you like butter. (But honestly who doesn't?)
The buttercup has been used in traditional medicines, as well as old folklore. In fact, in the Pacific Northwest, they are called “coyote’s eyes”. The legend states that Coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them, until Eagle snatched them up. Unable to see, Coyote made eyes from the buttercup (not scientifically accurate, especially in the context of evolution, but still fun:). Regarding medicinal uses, buttercups are often used to treat anti-rheumatism, intermittent fever and rubefacient in Native American medicine.
However, buttercups are not all fun and games. As with other members of the genus, the numerous seeds are borne as achenes (small, dry, one seeded fruit). This and other buttercups contain ranunculin, which breaks down to the toxin protoanemonin, a chemical that can cause dermatitis and vomiting. Ranunculus species are poisonous when eaten fresh by cattle, horses, and other livestock, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. This is most likely an evolutionary defense mechanism that has been selected for within members of this species. In fact, buttercups have become one of the few pasture weeds that have developed a resistance to herbicides. While this is beneficial for the plant, where does that leave humans who try to rid their lawn of weeds, or other plant species fighting for similar resources? Very similar to the concept of bacteria growing resistance to antibiotics, weeds will grow resistance to the pesticides used by humans. At a certain point, the damage caused by these lawn chemicals will be worse than keeping the weeds in the first place.
When it comes to buttercups, the chances of slowing the progression of this weed species in our area are much like hiding a mutual fondness of butter- it's pretty darn impossible. But when faced with those cute little golden flowers- why would we even want to?
Check out these sites if you're interested in more--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iol0B-clFFM (not really educational, but a good song)
Such fond memories of holding these cheery little flowers up to my childhood friends' chins. Mmmmm butter...
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