Prestigious Plants - Ranunculaceae 01 - Buttercup/Crowfoot

Plant Indices

• Alphabetical Index (Genera)
• Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
• Cladistic Index

For convenience, this article covers the three genera of Caltha, Ficaria, and Ranunculus (though not in that order). Caltha, while not generally referred to by the name “butter cup” is referred to as “king’s cup,” which is shared across all three genera.

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BUTTERCUP (Ranunculus)

Family: Ranunculaceae

Ranunculus eschscholtzii

America, South

• Quechua: Chuchu Wayta

Asia, East

• Japanese: Kabotcha

• Korean: Kiming-got

• Mandarin: Jin Lian Hua

Asia, West

• Persian: Ghanikool

Europe, Central

• German: Goldknöpfchen, Hahnenfuss, Hahnenfuß, Ranunkel

• Polish: Glistnik, Jaskier, Złocień

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Majblomst, Ranunkel, Sumpblomst

• Finnish: Leinikki

• Icelandic: Söleyjar

• Norwegian: Smorblom, Solbotn, Soleihov, Soleinøkleblom

• Swedish: Ranunkel, Smörblomma

Europe, Southern

• Latin: Batrachium

• Spanish: Boton De Oro, Ranúnculo

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Boterbloem

• English: Buttercup, Butterflower, Coyote Eyes, Crowfoot, Cuckoo Bud, Gold Cup, Gold Knob, King's Cup, Leopard's Foot, Spearwort

• French: Bouton D'or, Renoncule

Native to:

• Africa, Central: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda

• Africa, Eastern: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Réunion, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia

• Africa, Southern: Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa (Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces)

• Africa, Western: Nigeria

• America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon), Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Greenland, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming)

• America, South: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

• Asia, East: China (Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China), Japan (Kuril Islands, Nansei-shoto, Ogasawara-shoto), Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Magadan, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, Sakhalin, South European Russia, Transcaucasus, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutiya)

• Asia, South: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India (Assam), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

• Asia, Southeast: Borneo, Indonesia (Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, New Guinea, Sulawesi), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

• Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Azores, Baleares, Canary Islands, Corsica, Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (Sardinia, Sicily), Madeira, Portugal, Spain

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Scotland

• Oceania: Amsterdam-St. Paul Islands, Antipodean Islands, Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia), Chatham Islands, Crozet Islands, Falkland Islands, Galápagos Islands, Gulf of Guinea Islands, Heard-McDonald Islands, Juan Fernández Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Macquarie Islands, Marion-Prince Edward Islands, Mexican Pacific Islands, New Zealand (North Island, South Island), South Georgia Islands, Svalbard, Tristan da Cunha

Introduced to:

• Africa, Eastern: Mauritius

• America, North: Bermuda

• Europe, Northern: St. Helena

• Oceania: New Caledonia, Norfolk Island

Ranunculus is a genus that contains ~600 species of flowering mostly herbaceous plants. Mostly these are perennials, but some are biennials or annuals. They are typically terrestrial, but are occasionally aquatic. They are known as buttcups, spearworts, and water crowfoots. Occasionally the subgenus of the water crowfoots (Batrachium) is treated as its own distinct genus. This compiler has opted not to follow this pattern of thought for the sake of our own convenience.

Typically, these plants garden in spring, but will bloom in summer, especially when they are growing as opportunistic weeds.

Buttercups typically have a rosette of leaves at the base of the stem. Many perennial species send out runners to develop into new plants with their own roots and rosettes. The flowers are hermaphroditic, occurring singly or in cymes. The flowers usually have five petals that are yellow, greenish, or white, but may be flushed with red, purple, or pink. These petals may also be highly lustrous, especially the yellow petals, which is likely the source of the name "king's cup," identifying the luster with gold.

Victorian Flower Language
The buttercup is a mess of purported meaning. According to Greenaway, a single wild buttercup or king's cup is an emblem of "ingratitude" or "childishness," whereas multiple of these flowers in arrangement indicate a "desire for riches" (a softening of the accusation of greed?).

Both Greenaway and Roux agree that a garden buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus?) indicates "you are radiant with charm/you are rich in attractions/I am dazzled by your charms."

Our more dubious sources identify the buttercup with "commitment," "humility," "love," and "neatness."

Coyote's Eyes
In North America buttercups are sometimes called "coyote's eyes." This is believed to stem from a just-so story about the Native American trickster figure, Coyote. He was throwing his eyeballs up into the air before they were snatched away by an eagle. Blinded, he replaced his eyes with buttercups.

Ranunculus glaberrimus

Names
The name Ranunculus is Late Latin for "little frog," referring to the common habit of the plant near bodies of water.

Some have identified the name "buttercup" as being a reference to the plant lending butter its characteristic yellow hue. This is no doubt apocryphal, as the plant is poisonous to cows and other forms of livestock. More likely this name stems from its use in a children's divination game, where the flower was held under a patient's chin, yellow reflection from the lustrous petals indicating the patient's fondness for butter (this also worked on the neck).

Tattoo Removal
Supposedly a species of buttercup was used in Rome to aid in removing tattoos. Particularly, it was employed by slaves attempting to remove tattoos placed on their foreheads by their masters.

These plants are acrid to the taste and cattle generally avoid them. When the cattle don't, the plants prove poisonous.

According to Skinner, the ancients took one species of these plants and smeared their juices on the piles of arrows to take advantage of this poison.

Laughing Poison
Skinner claims that Pliny identified the buttercup as curious ingredient that stirs the eater into a state of raucous hysteria so intense that the patient may laugh themselves to death. Accordingly it can only be counteracted by a drink of "pineapple kernels and pepper in date wine."

Given that Pliny would have had no knowledge of the South American pineapple (Ananas comosus), and the reference to "kernels," we are forced to interpret this as a reference to the edible seeds of some conifer.

Ranunculus repens

• While this compiler is skeptical of the unilaterally positive meanings of our less identifiable sources on the flower language of this plant, the meanings of "commitment, humility, love, and neatness" can serve as an excellent basis for a charming character.
• The butter-fondness divination game could be translated into other purposes via adulteration of the plant, especially in the negative. The petals are lustrous, reflecting yellow light, so the appearance of a yellow chin should be expected. The lack of this coloration or its alteration could be used to identify something is wrong. Suppose this was used to identify a caillebottière, and the reflection appeared splotchy, indicating her corrupting influence on the butter of her neighbors.
• The use of the buttercup to remove tattoos of slavery lends the buttercup a meaning of "freedom," which can translate into "breaking bonds." Buttercup might make a good reagent for freedom spells, possibly even expanding to being employed to break locks to get into places.
• Alternately, the buttercup might be a reagent in magical workings of reputation restoration, with the brand of the slave master being abstracted laterally to marks of social stigma, such as a scarlet letter.
• The suggests the wealth of butter, that one is so wealthy they may consume fresh butter to their heart's content. It is a cup of butter from which one may drink straight!
• As "leopard foot" the buttercup indicated the presence of a malevolent, predatory influence ("here walks the leopard"). The leopard is to the lion as the ram is to the bull, an emblem of the devil. Married to the meanings of "ingratitude" and "childishness," the wild buttercup invading the garden as a weed is indicative of the insidious influence of Satan. If the gardener's hands are idle, the devil shall make a playground of the garden, and eventually, like the leopard, pounce from the overgrowth.
• Similarly, as "cuckoo bud," the wild buttercup weed spreads insidiously like seed of marital infidelity. This is much the same as the logic of "leopard's foot," save its threat is the shame and humiliation of cuckoldry rather than the spiritual death promised by the leopard.
• If a poison can be made of Pliny's laughing buttercup, one could introduce something akin to Joker's laughing toxin from Batman: The Animated Series to their setting. Because this could be introduced to the food supply by various means, this could be used to inflict a whole town with a laughing plague, not dissimilar to the "dancing plague" that afflicted Strasbourg in 1518.
• For Dungeons & Dragons, this would make an excellent material reagent for a druid/nature cleric version of the spell Tasha's hideous laughter (under the 3.5 ruleset, the material components for this spell were: "Tiny tarts that are thrown at the target and a feather that is waved in the air").
• An enchanted field of wild buttercups could be used as a static buffer area for some spellcaster or other by creating a zone of uncontrollable laughter.
• More benignly (or perhaps more frighteningly), the compulsive laughter property might be used to brute-force people out of melancholy. Less aggressively, a doctor might advise a medicinal salad with this as a key ingredient be served with the curative date wine to prevent the hysterical effects from going out of control.

Common Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

Ranunculus acris

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Prudký

• German: Acker-Hahnenfuß, Giftranunkel, Goldknöpfchen, Kritische Hahnenfuß, Scharfe Hahnenfuß, Scharfer Hahnenfuß, Schmalzblume

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Engranunkel, Nivarannunkel

• Finnish: Keltavoikukka, Niittyvoikukka, Piennarpäivänkakkara

• Icelandic: Dunderbló

• Norwegian: Grannunke, Njåblom, Vanlig Soleie

• Swedish: Giftig Smörblomma, Smörblomma

Europe, Southern

• Italian: Prato Di Botton D'oro

• Spanish: Ácoro Bastardo, Ranúnculo Acre

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Gele Boterbloem

• English: Common Buttercup, Acre Buttercup, Biting Buttercup, Blister Flower, Butter Rose, Giant Buttercup, Gold Weed, Goldcup, Meadow Buttercup, Sharp Buttercup, Tall Buttercup, Tall Crowfoot, Upright Buttercup, Yellow Gowan

• French: Ranoncule Âcre, Renoncule Âcre

• Africa, Northern: Tunisia

• America, North: United States (Alaska (Aleutian Islands)), Greenland

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia

• Asia, East: Korea

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Islands, Magadan, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, Sakhalin, South European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia)

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Corsica), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Intermediate grassland.

This common buttercup grows in height from 30-70cm (11-28in) tall. Its grooved stems bear glossy yellow flowers only about 2.5 cm across. It favors grasslands with intermediate drainage conditions. It does not fare will in species-rich tall grass environments. Its flower buds start developing in late summer, in the year prior to its flowering.

This is now a widely distributed pasture weed, and one of the few that has developed a resistance to herbicides. It is frost resistant.

This plant reproduces through seeding and by spreading out runners from the base rosette.

This is regarded generally as a troublesome weed in in human environments such lawns and walking paths, but might be a welcome sight in wildflower meadows.

We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

Native Americans have used this plant as various forms of medicine.

Cardiac Treatment
The Iroquois apply a poultice to the chest for chest pains.

Cold Treatment
The Iroquois apply a poultice to the chest to treat colds.

Diarrhea
The Iroquois make an infusion of the plant's roots to treat diarrhea.

Headaches
The Micmac and Montagnais use the leaves to treat headaches, while the Abenaki smash the leaves and flowers together for the same.

Hypervolemia
Supposedly the Iroquois apply a poultice of this buttercup paired with another unidentified plant to the skin to treat "excess water in the blood," which we interpret to mean hypervolemia (over-hydration). Unfortunately, the original source of this claim is from the University of Montreal, and we're not learning French.

Oral Treatment
The Cherokee make an infusion of this plant to treat oral thrush.

Sedative
The Cherokee employ the juice of this buttercup as a sedative.

Skin Treatment
The Bella Coola pound the roots to make a poultice for boils. The Cherokee do something similar for abscesses of the skin.

The oils in this plant are semi-poisonous to livestock, containing the glycoside ranunculin. nimals that have eaten this plant have been subject to blistering of the lips and tongue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and even blindness. This poisoning can become even more extreme, leading to ventricular fibrillation and respiratory failure.

The Cherokee cook and eat the leaves.

• The toxic and medicinal properties are probably useful, and this plant is widely distributed.
• The symptoms of ranunculin poisoning seems like excellent symptoms for a curse. They could also be the symptoms of a poison of regicide (re: "king's cup").

Aconite-Leaf Buttercup (Ranunculus aconitifolius)

Ranunculs aconitifolius

Europe, Central

• German: Narcisblütige Hahnenfuß, Sturmhutblättriger Hahnenfuß

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Hvid Ranunkel

• Norwegian: Isoleieblom

Europe, Western

• English: Aconite-Leaf Buttercup, Bachelor's Button, Fair Maids Of France, Fair Maids Of Kent, White Bachelor's Button, White Buttercup, White Crowfoot

• French: Ranoncule À Feuilles D'aconit, Renoncule À Feuilles D'aconit

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Southern: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain

• Europe, Western: France

Biome: Moist places in mountains, meadows, and on the edges of ditches and streams.

This white buttercup is a perennial that grows up to 60cm (24in) tall and 40cm (16in) broad at the base rosette. The hairy, palmate leaves from which it gets its name grow up to 20cm (8in) long. It blooms in the spring with loose panicles of white, saucer-shaped flowers.

These plants clump together, occasionally forming large colonies

Victorian Flower Language
The aconite-leaf buttercup has the meaning of "lustre," according to Greenaway. This is presented neutrally, indicating that it is probably positive or negative dependent upon other flowers in the arrangement for contextualization.

• Consider connection to wolfsbane. What happens when you conflate the wolf with the king's cup? Does this tie into the meaning of "lustre" as deception?
• Could this be used to detect lycanthropes the same way children used buttercups to divine a taste for butter?
• Has a relationship to [Wolfsbane] via its "aconite leaves." Consider using this as a reagent to disguise poison or curses?
• Under the name "Fair Maids of France," it brings to mind French elegance. Consider the leaves as blades/claws of the wolf. With this as a heraldic flower, it indicates that there is danger and resilience under a sweet appearance, without suggesting the sweetness is purely a facade.
• The sharing of the name "bachelor's button" with genera [Centaurea] (cornflower) and [Cichorium] (chicory; wild bachelor's button) allows this species to take advantage of the meanings of those flowers through conflation and vice-versa.
• The name "white crowfoot" suggests a "white crow" or at least a "white-footed crow." Following the ominous significance of white animals seen in the wild, this might be a mark of divine attention or fate. It is worth teasing out the "white crow's" iconographic significance, as it suggests something universal in the way of the white hart/stag. The "white-footed crow" indicates something more specific, possibly being the animal familiar of a folkloric figure, with possible connections of the crow's foot to [silver] or mercury. We intend to explore this further in the [bird] article.

Adder's Tongue Spearwort (Ranunculus ophioglossifolius)

Yellow flower of ranunculus ophioglossifolius (adder's-tongue spearwort),
Badgeworth Nature Reserve, Gloucestershire.

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Hadilkolistý

• German: Einblättriger Hahnenfuß, Natternzungen-Hahnenfuß, Schlangenzungen-Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Języczkowaty

Europe, Southern

• Italian: Ranuncolo con Foglie di Ofioglosso

• Spanish: Botón de Oro de Hoja de Lengua, Ranúnculo De Hoja De Ofiogloso

Europe, Western

• English: Adder's Tongue Spearwort, Badgeworth Buttercup, Serpent's Tongue, Serpent's Tongue Buttercup, Serpent's Tongue Spearwort

• French: Grenouillette à Feuilles d'Ophioglosse, Ranoncule à Feuilles d'Ophioglosse, Renoncule À Feuilles D'ophioglosse

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Krym, North Caucasus)

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Eastern: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain (Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)

• Europe, Western: England, France, Scotland

• Asia, West: Palestine (Extinct)

Adder's tongue spearwort is an herbaceous buttercup with small, bright-yellow flowers.

• The name "adder's tongue" suggests deception, and the spear suggests the hunt. It might be excellent for a sachet charm for a noble or monarch against hunting "accidents."
• Also possibly a charm against lies (spear against the serpent's tongue).
• Conflate with the [Adder's Tongue Fern].

St. Anthony's Turnip (Ranunculus bulbosus)

Ranunculus bulbosus

Asia, East

• Japanese: Giyokoro

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Hlíznatý

• German: Butterblume, Goldknöpfchen, Knoliger Hahnenfuß, Knollenbotterblum

• Polish: Jaskier Bulwkowy

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Blåsranunkel, Knoldbægeret Ranunkel, Knoldhane-Fod

• Finnish: Hiippavoikukka

• Norwegian: Knolsoleie

• Swedish: Knollranunkel, Knolranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Bulboso

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Goudknopje

• English: Bulbous Buttercup, Birdsfoot, Blister Flower, Bulbous Crowfoot, Bulbous-Rooted Buttercup, Butter Cress, Butter Daisy, Butter-Rose, Cuckoo Buds, Crowfoot, Frog's Foot, Gil-Cup, Glistening Crowfoot, Gold Knops, Goldcup, St. Anthony's Turnip, Yellow Gowan

• French: Pied-De-Coq, Pied-De-Corbin, Ranoncule Bulbeuse, Renoncule Bulbeuse

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco

• Asia, Central: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Central European Russia, Krym, North Caucasus, Northwest European Russia)

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Field, pasture, lawn.

The bulbous buttercup or St. Anthony's Turnip is an herbaceous perennial that grows 20-40cm (8-16in) tall. The flowers at the end of the stems are 1.5-3cm (0.6-1.2in) across and have 5-7 glossy yellow petals. It blooms from April to July.

Grows in fields, pastures, and lawns as a weed. It prefers nutrient-poor, well-drained soils. Uncommon in proper crop fields or improved grassland, but is regularly found in hay fields and coastal grasslands.

St. Anthony's turnip was thought to cure lunacy (the name here might be a clue). Skinner relays a practice of this belief in the form of an astrological poultice. The plant had to be held against the neck while the moon was waning while under the influence of Aries or Scorpio.

St. Anthony's Turnip

We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

Skinner relays the belief that St. Anthony's turnip would cure plague if rubbed on where the body appears most afflicted.

Contains the glycoside ranunculin, like most buttercups. Fresh plants are toxic to and avoided by livestock, but the glycoside breaks down as the plant is dried, so hay containing this plant is safe for animal consumption and farmers growing hay need not worry about St. Anthony's turnip tainting supply.

• "Lunacy" is based on the belief that insanity was influenced by the moon. The astrological "cure" with St. Anthony's turnip subordinates the influence of the moon to the astrological figures of Aries and Scorpio. How this influence works warrants more research.
• Following from the previous, could lunacy be cured with a scorpion sting and a headbutt from a goat? Seems grounds for slapstick.

Autumn Buttercup (Ranunculus bullatus)

Ranunculus bullatus

Europe, Central

• German: Pockiger Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Pęcherzykowaty

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Blæreranunkel, Knopperanunkel

Europe, Southern

• Catalan: Botó D'or

• Greek: Kininis

• Spanish: Boton De Oro, Botón De Oro, Flor De San Diego, Ranúnculo Botonado, Ranúnculo De Otoño

Europe, Western

• English: Autumn Buttercup, Blisterleaf Buttercup, Bullate Buttercup, Roughleaf Buttercup, Yellow Autumn Buttercup

• French: Ranoncule À Feuilles De Paquerette, Renoncule À Feuilles De Paquerette, Renoncule Bullée

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

• Europe, Southern: Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Portugal, Spain (Balearic Islands)

Biome: Dry fields, rocky outcrops, olive groves.

Autumn buttercup is an herbaceous perennial with a naked stem, its only leaves growing in a rosette at the base. These oval leaves are 2-6cm (08-2.4in) long, with broad, rounded teeth. Each plant grows 1-2 flowers that are 2.5cm (1in) across, with 5-12 slightly irregular petals. It blooms from Oct to Dec.

It can cover large areas of ground, favoring rocky places, dry fields, and olive groves, preferring altitudes from sea-level up to 900m (2,950ft).

• Retained for names and distribution.

Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)

Ranunculus repens

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Plazivý

• German: Aschkraut, Kneißkraut, Kriechender Hahnenfuß, Sitchensee

• Polish: Jaskier Rozłogowy

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Ålekrage, Krybende Ranunkel, Rørhöne

• Finnish: Laidunleinikki, Rönsyleinikki, Ryövärinputki

• Norwegian: Bekkeblom, Krypmure

• Swedish: Grovranunkel, Kakkuranunkel, Reväsmal, Revsmör, Trådfela

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Rastrero

Europe, Western

• Breton: Louzaou-Aour

• Dutch: Kruipende Boterbloem

• English: Creeping Buttercup, Creeping Crowfoot, Creeping Jenny, Devil's Guts, Gold Ball, Gold Cup, Gold Knots, Golden Crown, Golden Cup, Greaseweed, Horse Gold, King's Cup, Mary-buds, Meg-Many-Feet, Paigle, Sitting Daisy, Sitfast, Sitty-fit, Spotons, Yellow Cree, Yellow Gowan

• French: Ranoncule Rampante, Renoncule Rampante

• Frisian: Caardeblom

• Irish: Grannons

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco

• America, North: Canada

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

• Asia, East: China (North-Central, South-Central, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang), Japan, Korea

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Islands, Magadan, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, Sakhalin, South European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)

• Asia, South: Pakistan

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal (Azores, Madeira), Serbia, Spain (Canary Islands)

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Field and pasture.

Creeping buttercup is an herbacious perennial that grows 50cm (20in) tall. It has both erect flower stems and prostrate running stems, which establish new plants.

The leaves of its basal rosette are compound, borne on 4-20cm (1.5-8in)) petioles and divided into three long leaflets up to 8cm (3.2in) long. Its stems and leaves are finely hairy.

The flowers are a glossy, golden yellow, growing 2-3cm (8-1.2in) across, typically with 5 petals. The flower stems are finely grooved.

Creeping buttercup prefers wet soil in fields and pastures. Commonly found in ditches and flooded areas.

It is a common weed, because of both its creeping habit of reproduction and because its root ball is highly filamentous and anchors deep.

Creeping buttercup is poisonous and avoided by cattle for its acrid taste and because its sap can cause blistering to skin and mouth on contact. However, it loses its poisonous quality when dried, so it often ends up in hay. It also spreads through transportation of hay.

• Retained primarily for names, distribution, and biome.
• Its weedy habit even after drying in hay indicates a persistent problem. Could be an effective reagent for malevolent magic, with any curses being bound to pop up elsewhere even if broken on the original target.
• The names "greaseweed" and "sitfast" strongly suggest gastro-intestinal distress. As in, it will go through you like grease and hold you fast to the toilet.

Downy Buttercup (Ranunculus lanuginosus)

Ranunculus lanuginosus

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Kosmatý, Zlatenica Huňatá

• German: Flockiger Hahnenfuß, Hahnenfuß Wollig, Wolliger Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Kosmaty

• Slovak: Zlatica Chlpatá

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Lådden Ranunkel, Uldhåret Ranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Catalan: Botó d'Or Llanós

• Italian: Ranuncolo Lanuto

• Spanish: Flor de Mantequilla Lanuda, Ranúnculo Lanudo

Europe, Western

• English: Downy Buttercup, Woolly Buttercup, Woolly Crowfoot

• French: Ranoncule Laineuse, Renoncule Laineuse

• Asia, West: Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

• Europe, Western: France

Biome: Lowland forest; shaded and humid places.

The downy buttercup is an herbaceous perennial that grows from 30-80cm (11-32in) in height. Its stem is round, thick, and hollow. Its basal rosette has palmate leaves with long leafstalks and double-serrated margins. The leaves grow up to 12cm (4.7in) long and 8cm (3.1) wide.

Its flowers range from yellow to orange, with a dark middle region and five floral leaves in both the corolla and calyx. Each flower is 2-2.5cm (0.8-1in) across, and the plant blooms between the months of May and August.

This is a lowland buttercup that favors shady forests with dense undergrowth and other shady, humid locales. Its maximum elevation is ~1,400m (~4,500ft)

The Latin name for this plant translates roughly as "hairy frog."

As many other buttercups, down buttercup is toxic.

• There's probably something that could be done with hairy or woolly frogs.

Field Buttercup (Ranunculus arvensis)

Ranunculus arvensis

Asia, West

• Persian: Ghanikool-E-Zara'ee

Europe, Central

• German: Acker-Hahnenfuß, Ackerbotterblume, Acker-Mäusedorn, Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Polny

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Kornranunkel

• Finnish: Peltovoikukka, Pikkuvoikukka

• Norwegian: Åkersoleie

• Swedish: Åkerranunkel, Kyrkotagg

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Arvense

Europe, Western

• English: Corn Buttercup, Corn Crowfoot, Crow Claws, Devil's Claws, Devil's Coach Wheels, Devil's Currycombs, Devil-on-Both-Sides, Eggs-and-Bacon, Field Buttercup, Field Crowfoot, Hellweed, Horse-Gold, Hunger Weed, Jackweed, Satan's Claws, Scratch Bur, Starfruit, Starve-Acre, Wild Rape

• French: Chardons, Grenouillette Des Champs, Ranoncule Des Champs, Renoncule Des Champs

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

• Asia, East: China

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Krym, North Caucasus)

• Asia, South: Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (Baleares, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain (Canary Islands)

• Europe, Western: Belgium, France, Netherlands

The corn or field buttercup is a worldwide weed with its origins in Europe. It facors moist places, such as spring puddles in meadows.

Once a common annual weed in Britain, it is now quite rare in that country.

Names
This buttercup has many names, including horse-gold (Yorkshire), eggs-and-bacon (Cheshire), and jackweed (Oxfordshire). That first name, horse-gold, refers to the habit of its spiny seed heads to cling to horse hair.

These spiny seed heads also give it a host of less than flattering names: crowclaws (Yorkshire), devil's claws, devil's coach wheel, devil's currycombs, devil-on-both-sides, and hellweed.

The aforementioned currycombs of Devil.
Checks out.

• Many of its names indicate a malicious hanging-on to the horse, an animal associated with nobility and elegant power. Could be used as an emblem for the sort of wicked people who pursue the favor of the powerful and wealthy to parasitize their good fortune. This is reinforced by the name "devil's currycombs," which indicate a grooming device used in horse husbandry.
• "Devil-on-both-sides" indicates that this is a mutual threat vector. Anyone using the "devil's claws" in some sort of binding or curse, if so discovered, may have their own reagent turned on them.
• The name "hellweed" indicates the regard in which this plant was held, but could also a possible origin. Paired with the "devil's coach wheel," it takes on a dimension of boundary crossing, suggesting the Devil as psychopomp. Pairs well with "crowclaws," as in Europe the crow's role as psychopomp hinges on its role as a carrion eater, an omen of death.
• A field full of "hellweed" may also be interpreted as hell. This makes a field infested with such a weed ideal for diabolical workings (or identifying the site of diabolical workings).
• Devil's claws are a good reagent for curses (save the previously identified "devil-on-both-sides" counter-vector), as hooking the seeds into the clothing of the target of the curse indicates "the devil has his hooks on you).
• Similarly to the "devil's claws," the "devil's currycombs" could be dug into the clothing of the target of an enchantment, someone who the caster wishes to groom. This could be for the most lascivious meaning of common modern parlance, or simply the useful manipulation of a stooge for some palace intrigue.
• The "devil's coach wheel" indicates the seeds would be useful for summoning the Devil in sorceries, but also provide excellent visual inspiration for any such conveyance for the Devil.
• As a field weed it is damaging to crops, hence the names "hunger weed" and "starve-acre." This would make it an effective reagent for or manifestation of a famine-curse. All previously discussed in our notes on this species may be hitched to this use.
• The name "starfruit" may be a corruption of the plant's association with "star"vation. This would be a corruption in the opposite direction from something like [mullien], which is associated with witches by the name "hag's taper," which is an etymological corruption of "hedge taper," due to that plant's common growth as a hedge or in existing hedges.
• Even with the above speculation on the "star"/"starve" connection, the name "starfruit" is still ripe for exploitation. It suggests the seed of (and therefore the ability to produce) a star. Alternately, it can be interpreted as the product of malefic astrological action.
• Following from the astrological fruit notion, one could secondarily divine the meaning of ominous astrological activity by use of this flower. "By their fruits shall you know them."

Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus)

Ranunculus auricomus

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Zlatožlutý

• German: Ack-Hahnenfuß, Butterblume, Goldgelber Hahnenfuß, Goldschopf, Goldschopf-Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Różnolistny

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Bingelranunkel, Blankranunkel, Bladranunkel, Lundranunkel, Majblomst

• Finnish: Alakeltavoikukka, Kevätleinikki, Kevätlehtoleinikki

• Norwegian: Guldsoleie, Gullsoleie

• Swedish: Gullranunkel, Nycklar, Nypon-Ranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Dorado

Europe, Western

• English: Goldilocks Buttercup, Changeleaf Crowfoot, Goldilocks, Goldilocks Crowfoot, Greenland Buttercup, Variable-Leaved Buttercup, Wood Buttercup, Wood Crowfoot

• French: Ranoncule À Tête D'or, Renoncule À Tête D'or, Renoncule Tête-D'or

• Europe, Northern: Finland, Norway, Sweden

Biome: Deciduous woodland; scrub.

Goldilocks buttercup is an herbaceous perennial that grows 30-50cm (12-20in) tall, with a rosette of 10 leaves with 3-5 narrow divisions. This plant is difficult to identify by flowers alone, as the flowers are often imperfect or even missing. They start blooming in April, peaking at the end of May and the beginning of June.

Favors deciduous woodland with rich base soils, especially those overlaying chalk or limestone. Occasionally grows in scrub, along roads, and in churchyards.

• Retained primarily for names and distribution.
• The plant's habit of growing in graveyards could translate into the plant's interpretation as an omen. The flowers are often imperfect or missing, which contrasts (as far as this compiler can tell) from other buttercups. A king's cup known for growing in graveyards, marked by its imperfection, suggests a broken goblet spilling out the wine of life.

Grassleaf Buttercup (Ranunculus gramineus)

Ranunculs gramineus

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Trávolistý

• Polish: Jaskier Trawiasty

Europe, Northern

• Swedish: Gräsranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Catalan: Botó d'Or

• Italian: Ranuncolo Graminoide

• Occitan: Boutoun d'Or

• Spanish: Hierba de la Cerveza, Rainanculo Gramíneo, Ranúnculo De Hoja De Gramínea

Europe, Western

• English: Grassleaf Buttercup, Grassy Buttercup, Grassy Crowfoot

• French: Ranoncule À Feuilles De Graminée, Ranoncule Graminée

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

• Europe, Central: Switzerland

• Europe, Southern: Italy (Sardinia), Portugal, Spain

• Europe, Western: France

The grassleaf buttercup is an herbaceous perennial.

• Retained for names and distribution.

Greater Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua)

Ranunculus lingua

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Velký

• German: Fleischrotes Wucherblume, Großer Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Wielki

Europe, Eastern

• Estonian: Vasranunkel

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Langbladet Ranunkel, Stor Vandsoleie

• Finnish: Suurleinikki

• Norwegian: Bekkeblom, Storsoleie

• Swedish: Skogsoljenöje, Skvallerkål

Europe, Southern

• Italian: Ranuncolo delle Canne

• Portuguese: Língua de Cobra

• Spanish: Ranúnculo de Hojas Largas, Ranúnculo De Lengüeta

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Bootjesblad, Groot Speerenkruid

• English: Great Spearwort, Greater Spearwort, Longleaf Spearwort, Tall Spearwort, Tongueleaf Buttercup, Tongueflower Buttercup, Water Buttercup

• French: Grand Douve, Grande Douve, Renoncule Langue

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan

• Asia, East: China (Xinjiang)

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, East European Russia, Krasnoyarsk, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, South European Russia, West Siberia)

• Asia, South: Pakistan

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Wetlands.

The water buttercup or greater spearwort is a semiaquatic perennial that prefers to grow in ~40cm (16in) of water in wetland habitats. The plant is ~120cm (47in) long. They can sprout horizontally out of the mud, its stem then going erect and hollow as they rise out of the water. The aerial stem (above the water's surface) may branch, which may be up to 30cm (11in) long and 3cm (1.1in) wide. It produces alternating glabrous leaves on the aerial branches, but produces shorter, submerged basal leaves on the stem in autumn, which typically overwinter.

It produces cymes of yellow flowers, with five petals. The flowers are 5cm (2in), and bloom in the summer (June-Sept in northern Europe).

Occurs in many wetlands, including marshes, ditches, ponds, canals, reservoirs, gravel pits, and quarries.

• Take advantage of the tongue association, which ties the golden color to speech. This would be a step beyond "silver tongued," impressing upon those so charmed by the flower that the magician's word is as good as gold.
• Could be used in the reverse, as a magical plea to aid the caster in being as good as his word.
• As "greater spearwort" it could be an emblem of hunter gods.
• "Greater spearwort" also suggests "greater spear." It could be employed as an iconographic device of valor and martial prowess. It could also be used as a battle charm, signifying the bearer's "spear" is "greater" in contest of arms.

Illyrian Buttercup (Ranunculus illyricus)

Ranunculus illyricus

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Ilyrský, Zlatenica Ilýrska

• German: Illyrischer Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Iliryjski

• Slovak: Zlatica Illýrska

Europe, Eastern

• Croatian: Borovnica

• Serbian: Ljutić Ilirski

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo De Iliria

Europe, Western

• English: Illyrian Buttercup, Balkan Buttercup, Fireweed, Illyrian Crowfoot, Wool Buttercup

• French: Ranoncule d'Illyrie, Renoncule D'illyrie

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Central European Russia, East European Russia, Krym, North Caucasus, South European Russia)

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (East Aegean Islands), Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

The Illyrian buttercup is an herbaceous perennial found in pastures and grasslands, growing 15-30cm (6-12in) tall. Its leaves are tri-composite and its stem has white hairs. The cup of the flower bends back at the time of flowering. It blooms in May and June.

• This shares the name "fireweed" with dodder (genus [Cuscuta]) and willowherb ([Chamaenerion angustifolium]), and therefore magically synonymous. Worth revisiting once those entries are sorted.

Mountain Buttercup (Ranunculus montanus)

Ranunculus montanus

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Horský, Zlatenica Horská

• German: Berg-Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Górski

• Slovak: Zlatica Horská

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Montagne Ranunkel

• Norwegian: Fjellsoleie

• Swedish: Fjällranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Catalan: Botó d'Or de Muntanya

• Italian: Ranuncolo Montano

• Spanish: Botón de Oro Montano, Ranúnculo De Montaña

Europe, Western

• English: Mountain Buttercup, Mountain Crowfoot

• French: Ranoncule Des Montagnes, Renoncule des Montagnes

• Europe, Central: Austria, Germany, Switzerland

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

• Europe, Western: France

Biome: Alpine

Mountain buttercup is an alpine buttercup from central and south-central Europe.

• Retained for names and distribution.
• Probably most significant name is "mountain crowfoot," connect the affiliations of the crow to the meanings of the mountain.

Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus)

Ranunculus asiaticus

Asia, West

• Persian: Ghanikool-E-Baghee, Gol-E-Āftābgardān

Europe, Central

• German: Asiaticher Hahnenfuß, Asiatische Ranunkel

• Polish: Jaskier Azjatycki

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Asiatisk Ranunkel

• Swedish: Asiatisk Ranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Italian: Ranuncolo Asiatico

• Portuguese: Ranúnculo-Dos-Jardins

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Asiático

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Afrikaantje, Turkse Ranonkel

• English: Persian Buttercup, African Buttercup, Asian Buttercup, Asian Crowfoot, Asian Ranunculus, Asiatic Buttercup, Florist's Ranunculus, Garden Ranunculus, Persian Crowfoot, Persian Ranunculus, Turban Buttercup

• French: Ranoncule Des Fleuristes, Ranoncule Des Jardins, Ranoncule Asiatique, Renoncule Asiatique, Renoncule Des Fleuristes, Renoncule Des Jardins

• Africa, Northern: Egypt, Libya

• Asia, West: Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Southern: Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands)

The Persian buttercup is an herbaceous perennial that grows up to 45cm (18in), with a rosette of tri-lobed leaves. Its flowers 3-5cm (1-2in) across. The flowers are variably red to pink, yellow, or white. They have one to several flowers on each stem in cyme.

• Retained for names and distribution.
• This appears to be the "garden buttercup" of Greenaway, and therefore means: "you are radiant with charm/you are rich in attractions/I am dazzled by your charms."

Sardinian Buttercup (Ranunculus sardous)

Yellow flower - hairy buttercup (Ranunculus sardous), Afon Nedd Fechan, Powys

Asia, West

• Arabic: Qishta

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Sardinský

• German: Haariger Hahnenfuß, Hirtenblume

• Polish: Jaskier Sardyński

Europe, Northern

• Swedish: Smörblomma

Europe, Southern

• Basque: Jauzkia

• Italian: Ranoncolo Sardo

• Spanish: Ranúnculo De Cerdeña

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Behaarde Boterbloem

• English: Sardinian Buttercup, Baseclaw Buttercup, Blister Flower, Burweed, Corn Buttercup, Hairy Buttercup, Pale Hairy Buttercup, Roughfruit Buttercup, Sardinian Crowfoot, Smallflower Buttercup

• French: Pied-De-Poule, Renoncule De Sardaigne

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Krym, North Caucasus)

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain (Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Netherlands, Scotland

Hairy buttercup is an herbaceous annual or biennial, that grows up to 50cm (20in) tall. It has hairy leaves typically divided into three leafletson petiols only a few centimeters in length.

The flowers are yellow, usually with five petals, with the flower being 2cm (0.8in) across.

It grows well in moist, disturbed habitats.

The term "sardonic" (from the Greek sardanios) means "bitter or scornful laughter." This is derived from the Greek name for this plant, σαρδάνη (sardanē) or σαρδόνιον (sardonion). The meaning of "sardonic" comes from the poisonous effects of this plant, which is claimed to cause muscle seizure resembling a scornful grimace. Also possibly tied to σαίρω (sairō) "I grin".

The toxic effect of this plant is purported to cause unpleasant muscle seizure, generally followed by death.

• The poison of the Sardinian buttercup and its terrible grimace could be abstracted in a curse. A person so cursed may compulsively destroy their own life and relationships gleefully before control is ceded back to them and, in despair, they take their own lives.

Snow Buttercup (Ranunculus nivalis)

Ranunculus nivalis

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Sněžný

• German: Schnee-Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Śnieżny

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Sneranunkel

• Finnish: Lumileinikit, Lumisoleinen

• Norwegian: Fjellsoleie

• Swedish: Nivalis, Snöranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo De Las Nieves

Europe, Western

• English: Snow Buttercup, Arctic Buttercup, Snow Crowfoot, Snow-white Buttercup

• French: Ranoncule des Neiges, Renoncule Des Neiges

• America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Québec, Yukon), Greenland, United States (Alaska (Aleutian Islands))

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Kamchatka, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Islands, Magadan, North European Russia, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)

• Europe, Northern: Finland, Norway, Sweden, Svalbard

Biome: Wet, alpine meadows, cliffs, and streamsides.

Snow buttercup is an herbaceous perennial that survives in harsh, cold environments through marked heliotropism. It grows up to 23cm (9in) tall. ITs flowers are glossy yellow. As the name suggests it can bloom in the snow.

• This buttercup's obvious solar symbolism in the face of winter provides a plethora of options, as an emblem of hope. As with other heliotropic plants, it would make an excellent reagent for a detection spell, wherein the desired target of detection is reframed as the sun. This buttercup would work particularly well because of its snow-blooming habit, pointing to the target of the spell even when the target seems beyond the spell's reach (metaphorical winter).

Spinyfruit Buttercup (Ranunculus muricatus)

Ranunculus muricatus

Africa, Southern

• Afrikaans: Ranonkel

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Měkkoostenný

• German: Acker-Hahnenfuß, Stachelsame, Stachelfrüchtiger Hahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Najeżony

Europe, Eastern

• Latvian: Āranžs

Europe, Southern

• Catalan: Botó d'Or Espinós

• Italian: Ranuncolo Spinoso

• Portuguese: Pigaço

• Spanish: Espinoso, Ranúnculo Espinoso

Europe, Western

• English: Spinyfruit Buttercup, Buttercup-of-the-wall, Pricklyfruit Buttercup, Roughfruit Buttercup, Roughfruit Crowfoot, Roughseed Buttercup, Spinefruit Buttercup, Spinyfruit Crowfoot, Yellowflower Buttercup

• French: Ranoncule Muriquée, Renoncule À Fruits Épineux

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Krym, North Caucasus)

• Asia, South: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Eastern: Bulgaria, Romania

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain (Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)

• Europe, Western: France

Biome: Wetland.

Spinyfruit buttercup is an herbaceous annual or biennial that grows up to 50cm (20in) tall, with a hairless stem that is either erect or decumbent along the ground. Its leaves are only a few centimeters in lengths, and split into three leaflets, and can range from hairless to hairy in texture.

The plant's flowers are roughly 2cm (0.8in) across, with five shiny yellow petals.

• Retained primarily for name and distribution.

* * * * * * *

Water Crowfoots (Subgroup)

Common Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis)

Ranunculus aquatilis

Europe, Central

• Czech: Lodýn Vodní

• German: Gewöhnlicher Wasserhahnenfuß, Meerranunkel

• Polish: Lodyn Wodny

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Almindelig Vandranunkel, Bytybladet Ranunkel, Langbladet Vandranunkel, Vandhårranunkel, Vandranunkel

• Icelandic: Sökblađka

• Norwegian: Lodne Vasshår, Vannkryp

• Swedish: Vattenmöja

Europe, Southern

• Latin: Batrachium

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Acuático

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Fluitende Waterranonkel, Ordinaire Waterranonkel

• English: Common Water Crowfoot, Floating Water Crowfoot, Grenada Thread, Ram's Claws, River Buttercup, River Crowfoot, Thread-Leaved Water Crowfoot, Water Buttercup, Water Crowfoot, White Water Buttercup, White Water Crowfoot

• French: Baudotii, Fausse Renoncule, Grenouillette, Ranoncule Aquatique, Renoncule Aquatique

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Northwest European Russia)

• Asia, West: Lebanon, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Aquatic, slow-moving or still waters.

The common water-crowfoot is an aquatic plant that grows in mats on the surface of water. It has two varieties of leaves. The first are toothed floater leaves, and the other are threadlike underwater leaves.

The plant's flowers are white-petaled with yellow centers, held about 1cm above the surface. They grow at the same time as the floater leaves, which serve to prop the flower up.

• Retained for name, habitat, and distribution.
• The name suggests a resting spot for crows on the water, giving them access to the crow.
• The crow often serves as a form of psychopomp, and the water of the lake, pond, or river is often a portal to the otherworld. The appearance of a crow standing on a mat of water crowfoot could be used to indicate locations where one could access the faerie world or the world of the dead. Potentially a useful marker in video games.
• Similar to how R. aconitifolius suggests a "white crow," this also suggests a "water crow," which could be the name of the previously discussed psychopomp. The features of the "water crow" are worth expanding on, including how they might appear below the surface of the water.
• "Ram's Claws" could be a reference to hooves, or to the [Devil].

Pond Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus)

Ranunculus peltatus

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Štítnatý

• German: Schild-Hahnenfuß, Schild-Wasserhahnenfuß

• Polish: Jaskier Tarczowaty

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Hjuldannet Vandranunkel, Skjoldvandranunkel

• Norwegian: Stjerneranunkel

• Swedish: Näckslingeranunkel, Sköldmöja

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Botón de Agua, Ranúnculo Acuático, Ranúnculo Peltado

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Kleine Waterranonkel, Vijverranonkel

• English: Common Water Crowfoot, Floating Water Crowfoot, Floatingleaf Water Crowfoot, Pond Crowfoot, Pond Water Crowfoot, Shield Water Crowfoot, Shieldleaf Water Crowfoot, Water Buttercup, Water Crowfoot

• French: Ranoncule Peltée

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Libya, Morocco

• Asia, Central: Kyrgyzstan

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)

• Asia, South: Afghanistan

• Asia, West: Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (Corsica, Sardinia), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain (Balearic Islands)

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Ponds, lakes, slow streams

Pond water-crowfoot is an aquatic herbaceous annual or perennial that favors slow-moving water in ponds, lakes, and slow streams. It possesses broad, rounded floating leaves 3-5cm (1-2in) in diameter with three to seven shallow loves, and finely-divided thready leaves that stay submerged beneath the water's surface.

Its flowers are white with a yellow center, 1.5-2cm (0.6-0.8in) across, each with five petals.

• Retained for name, distribution, and biome.

River Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans)

Ranunculus fluitans

Europe, Central

• Czech: Pryskyřník Vzplývavý

• German: Flutender Hahnenfuß, Haarnixenkraut, Wasserhahnenfuß, Wasserfenchel

• Polish: Jaskier Rzeczny

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Flod-Ranunkel, Longbladet Vandranunkel

• Swedish: Bäckeranunkel, Flodranunkel, Langbladig Flytranunkel

Europe, Southern

• Spanish: Ranúnculo Flotante

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Rivierwaterranonkel, Stroomranunkel

• English: River Water Crowfoot, Floatingleaf Crowfoot, Floating Water Buttercup, Floating Water Crowfoot, Langleaf Water Buttercup, River Buttercup, River Crowfoot

• French: Renoncule Flottante

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Italy (Corsica, Sardinia)

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Aquatic; fast-flowing water.

River water-crowfoot is a perennial water plant with no floating leaves. Below the surface it has long, narrow, tassel-like segments for leaves. The plant favors fast-flowing water (such as the River Frome, as described in Jacob Sturm William Barnes' poem 'The Water Crowfoot'), and in these conditions it can grow up to 6m (20ft) from its base, but the stems are only about 30cm (12in) above the surface. Each stem can have up to two flowers.

The flowers are held above the water lever, growing about 2-3cm (08-1.2in) across. The flowers are described as "daisy-like," with 6-8 overlapping petals around a yellow center. It blooms in June.

• Retained for names, distribution, and biome.

* * * * * * *

LESSER CELANDINE (Ficaria)

Family: Ranunculaceae
Species: Ficaria verna (syn. Ranunculus ficaria)

Ficaria verna

Asia, East

• Japanese: Kusabōtan

Asia, West

• Turkish: Basit Düğün Çiçeği

Europe, Central

• German: Erdgerste, Feigwurz, Froschkraut, Ganseblumchen, Gewohnliches Scharbockskraut, Gilbkraut, Golde, Goldknopfchen, Goldkropf, Goldstar, Goldstarnchen, Hahnenfuss, Kleines Schollkraut, Krottenblume, Maussblum, Mennige, Morgenstern, Nisskraut, Pfirsichrose, Pfennigkraut, Pfennig-Salat, Rhabarberblumchen, Scharbocksheil, Scharbockskraut, Schmalzblume, Schmirgel, Schraubenbrot, Schwalbenkraut, Skorbutskraut, Sternenblumchen, Warzenblume, Wiesenkresse, Winterling, Zipfelkraut, Zitronen-Hahnenfuss

• Hungarian: Erdei Galagonya

• LINGUA IGNOTA: Dugrul, Guska

• Polish: Glistnik, Jaskier Wiosenny

Europe, Eastern

• Croatian: Hlebaričica

Europe, Northern

• Finnish: Keltainen Kevättähti, Munkkuputki

• Norwegian: Skjørbuksurt, Vårkål

• Swedish: Svalört

Europe, Southern

• Italian: Ranuncolo Favagello

• Latin: Ranunculus Ficaria

• Medieval Latin: Chelidonium Minus, Sedum Acre

• Spanish: Celidonia Menor, Escrofularia Menor, Flor De Primavera, Nariz De Gato

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Beursbloem, Blatterbloem, Bosranonkel, Boterbloemsoort, Dukatenbloem, Gele Anemoon, Gele Ranonkel, Goudblommetje, Gouwe, Guldenboterblom, Kinderkens-Kruid, Maartensbloem, Maartsche Viooltjes, Smeerwortel, Speenkruid, Vijgwortel, Vroegeling

• English: Lesser Celandine, Baikal, Butter And Cheese, Butter And Eggs, Butterbur, Cheeseflower, Common Pilewort, Fig Buttercup, Figwort, Gold Guineas, Goldilocks, Golden Cup-Flower, Marsh Pilewort, Marygold, May-Blobs, Paigle, Pilewort, Scurvy Herb, Small Celandine, Spring Messenger, Tetterwort

• French: Chrysosplene, Couronne De Roi, Cul-Pourri, Éclair, Éclairette, Egouttee, Ficaire, Fils-Avant-Le-Pere, Grain D'or, Hémorroïdes, Herbe Aux Hemorrhoides, Jaunisse, Petite Chelidoine, Pissenlit, Populage, Renoncule Ficaire

• Irish: Bleamán Bealtaine

• Scottish Gaelic: Dorchadas, Iarbh Ghrollach

• Welsh: Llygad Ebrill, Yngheinaf

• Africa, Northern: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Central European Russia, East European Russia, Krym, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, South European Russia)

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece (Crete, East Aegean Islands), Italy (Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain (Balearic Islands, Canary Islands)

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France (Corsica), Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Ficaria or fig buttercup is a small genus that is often lumped back together with Ranunculus, so for our convenience we join them here. They are noted for having only three sepals and swollen smooth achenes. The only Ficaria species we care about is Ficaria verna, also called lesser celandine or pilewort.

Lesser celandine is a low-growing, hairless perennial. It has fleshy, heart-shaped leaves that are dark green in color. Its flowers have glossy yellow petals like many other buttercups.

It prefers bare, damp ground, and is commonly regarded as a garden weed despite its regular cultivation.

Seasonal
In the UK, the appearance of its blooms is a harbinger of spring.

Victorian Flower Language
According to our sources, the lesser celandine indicates "joys to come."

This flower is cultivated in by many gardeners and nurseries.

This flower was a favorite of a number of poets and authors, such as William Wordsworth. It features prominently in the works of Edward Thomas, C. S. Lewis, and D. H. Lawrence.

We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.

Antibacterial
One of the plant's toxic chemicals was the mild irritant, protoanemonin. Studies suggest, however, that as a topical treatment protoanemonin has antibacterial function. Mild heating turns the protoanemonin to anemonin, a non-toxic chemical with some medical properties.

Antispasmodic
Anemonin is believed to have antispasmodic properties.

Hemorrhoids
The plant gets the name "pilewort" from the shape of its knobby tubers, which pre-Modern people identified as resembling piles, which we now call hemorrhoids. The medicinal logic of this follows the doctrine of signatures, wherein a plant's resemblance to an organ or pathology identifies it as good medicine for the same.

Pain Killer
Anemonin is believed to be an analgesic.

Scrofula
Scrofula, or "king's evil," is a bacterial infection of the lymph nodes of the neck. Nicholas Culpepper (1616 - 1654) is said to have used this plant to treat his daughter's scrofula. This might be based on the protoanemonin content.

Scurvy
The German name skorbutkraut ("scurvy herb") is a reference to the high vitamin C content of its young leaves, which made it an effective treatment for scurvy. This identification may be a misnomer, however, because the young leaves share both the shape and German name with common scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis). The German Hager's Manual of pharmacy practice of 1900 regards both Ranunculus ficaria and C. officinalis are practical synonyms.

These older texts don't cover the toxicity of untreated plants, while later works specify that this plant must be dried first before medical use.

Fresh pilewort is toxic to humans and livestock. It's acrid in taste and causes blistering of the mouth and skin. Livestock poisoning by this plant is most likely to happen in over-grazed fields where the plant is eaten out of desperation.

Unprotected handling of pilewort can lead to contact dermatitis.

Symptoms of pilewort poisoning includes:

• Excessive salivation (foaming of the mouth)
• Blistering of the mouth, mucous membranes, and GI tract.
• Colic
• Bloody Diarrhea
• Death

These toxins are mostly destroyed by heat treatment, making the plant safe to consume or use medicinally.

During the Mesolithic period, we have evidence that European hunter gatherers boiled, fried, and roasted the roots of this plant.

• The antispasmodic properties of heat-treated pilewort could be used to relax the control a demon has on the possessed, as the behavior we identify in the possessed (at least in popular media) is spasmodic.
• "Pile" also refers to the head of an arrow or bolt. This could be used to mark where an arrow or bolt will land by magnetism. Alternately, this could also be used to bestow poison to an arrow or bolt.

* * * * * * *

MARSH MARIGOLD (Caltha)

Family: Ranunculaceae

Caltha palustris in Michigan

Asia, East

• Japanese: Shibatsa

Europe, Central

• German: Dotterblume, Gotteblume, Kaenguruemfuesse, Kuhblume, Sumpfdotterblume

• Hungarian: Mocsari Golyahir

• LINGUA IGNOTA: Fulzia

• Polish: Kalmus

Europe, Eastern

• Estonian: Kabbeleja, Käenkellu

• Russian: Kaluzhnitsa

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Blaerrod, Kabbeleje

• Norwegian: Gaukeblon, Sumppdotterblomst

Europe, Southern

• Asturian: Caleyendo

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Dotterbloem, Gewone Dotterbloem, Moerasdotterbloem

• English: Marsh Marigold, Bachelor's Buttons, Boot, Brave Bascinet, Bride of the Sun, Bullflower, Butter Blob, Buttercup, Butterwort, Care, Cowbloom, Cowflock, Cowlily, Cowslip, Crazy Beth, Crowfoot, Cup, Death Flower, Dragon's Flower, Drunkard, Goblet, Gold, Gold Flower, Golding, Golden Flower, Horse Blob, Kalathos, King's Cup, Kingcob, Lefthand-Iron, Mare Blob, Marybud, May Blob, Meadow Bout, Meadow Buttercup, Meadow Cowslip, Meadow Gowan, Mollyblob, Pool Flower, Publican's Cloak, Publican-and-Sinner, Shining Herb, Soldier's Button, Water Blobs, Water Boot, Water Bubbles, Water Buttercup, Water Dragon, Water Goggles, Water Gowan, Yellow Gowan, Yolk of Egg

• French: Couillon De Marais, Palustris, Populage

• Irish: Sláinte

• Scottish Gaelic: Sciuch

Marsh marigolds are members of the buttercup family, which favors moist, temperate environments. These are hairless herbaceous perennials that range in size from dwarf to medium, meaning 1-80cm (0.4-31in) tall. Its flowers are star-shaped, notable for their lack of true petals and nectaries, but with five distinctly-colored sepals in white or yellow. The flower buds are fully developed during the first snow, so it can open immediately after the melt of spring.

Its seeds germinate better and faster if they develop during and are released after a cold period.

Cup
The genus name Caltha is derived from the Greek kalathos, meaning "goblet," an obvious reference to the flower's shape. This puts in the company of genus Ranunculus through the shared name "king's cup." This gives the plant full access to the meaning of magician's instrument, the [cup].

Mary and the Marsh
One of the many just-so stories about flowers and the Virgin Mary claims that Caltha or [Calendula] was the flower that she wore on her bosom, hence "Mary's gold," and why it was used as tribute to Mary in medieval churches during the Easter celebration.

Skinner suggests that the name is the result of a folk etymology from marais (marsh) or meer (pond or lake), which would place the source of the name "marigold" with the Caltha. This compiler adds that this would also suggest that the true marigolds of genus Calendula were likely given the name after the conflation with Mary mother of God, and then translated across due to shared color (the flower morphology is markedly different).

Caltha, like Ranunculus, is noted for its noxious chemicals, like anemonin, which causes vertebrates to avoid it and protects it from insect pests.

• For the purposes of iconography the marsh marigold might be employed as an emblem of Mary as Theotokos. The cup or chalice is a feminine emblem, a container, a womb, and Christ is the King of Kings. Ergo, Mary is the king's cup. This might be a good direction to go if one wishes to syncretize the iconographic traditions of Eastern divinities emerging from the Lotus or other flowers into Christian expression.
• The Caltha could also be an emblem of Christ Himself, the cup of immortality that Mary presents ot the world, and therefore an oblique reference to the salvation of the Eucharist in conjunction with a stand-in for bread.
• It could also refer to Melchior, the Magus traditionally identified as presenting Christ with the gift of gold at the Nativity (and, therefore, an emblem of Christ's kingship). Joined with other oblique references to frankincense and myrrh, it identifies all of the significance of the meeting with the Magi to Mary, the Christ child, and therefore the whole world.
• "Boot" might be employed bluntly, being symbolically or magically indicative of "giving" the target "the boot."
• Under the name "brave bascinet," it might be taken as an emblem of foolishness or an apotropaic for those undertaking a difficult or even impossible task (a recognition of genuine bravery). A garland of Caltha worn on the head might be an icon of faith in one's cause, righteousness in the face of overwhelming odds, or wishful thinking.
• The name "bride of the sun" recalls the German story, but might be mused magically to tap into the virtues of the solar principle by having the Sun's ear through his wife.
• The name "bullflower," while surely an allusion to the plant's toxic effects on said cattle, does offer the plant access to the bull as a symbolic device, and therefore to thunder.
• The name "butterwort" comes from its color, just as buttercup. This suggests the wealth of butter, that one is so wealthy they may consume fresh butter to their heart's content.
• The name "lefthand-iron," a name shared with Calendula, suggests a shield, the "iron" held in the left hand (a boss-shield or buckler). This protects the left/sinister/weak side of the body. Iron shields from iron, giving this the dimension of a charm against physical violence or for martial victory. It can also be employed against faeries, who are traditionally weak to iron.
• "Golding" lends this flower the ability to gild other things (abstractly or literally).
• "Golding" is also one letter away from "gelding." A particularly malevolent person might employ this connection in a curse, heaping financial success and accolades upon the target in exchange for rendering the target impotent or sterile.
• "Horse blob" suggests a horse vomiting. This plant could be used in curse against the enemy's horses, whether for riding or burden, using magic to attack an enemy force's logistics.
• One name is "publican-and-sinner." A publican is a contractor that is essential to any number of public works, but in the time of the New Testament were chiefly regarded as tax collectors. In the positive this is a reference to the Apostle Matthew the Evangelist.
• Another name, "publican's cloak," carries a dual meaning. The first follows from the reference to Matthew the Evangelist, who is draped in the glory (gold) of Christ as he goes spreading the Word. More negatively, it could be a reference to the visible wealth of a tax-collector and the bitterness that comes with paying tax (the noxious chemicals found in the plant).
• "Soldier's button" could be a biting commentary on the superficial lustre of martial glory, which is not truly gold, bitter to taste, and can't even hold your clothes in place (poverty wages). It could also be employed in magical attack against the equipment of an enemy army, causing it to disintegrate as the white-tin buttons of Napoleon's army crumbled during the Russian campaign.
• The name "water boot" suggests it protects the feet from water. As a reagent in a charm-sachet against the effects of weather, one might be able to traverse storm of flood waters on foot without catching cold or getting sick from any cuts or abrasions one acquires in the task.
• As "water dragon," this might be an allusion to the wet habit and the burning it causes in the mouth. This can be reframed with the significance of the [dragon], and indicate potentiality. We think this pans out based on the quantity and quality of compiler's notes we've been able to generate based on so short a plant entry.
• "Water goggles" may be employed as reagent to grant someone clear vision in water or, more abstractly, mist and fog.

Common Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Caltha palustris

Asia, East

• Japanese: Shibatsa

Europe, Central

• Czech: Caltha, Kukačka, Kuklik

• German: Dotterblume, Gewohnliche Sumpfdotterblume, Gotteblume, Grosse Butterblume, Kuhblume, Ranunkel, Schlutterkraut, Schmalzblume, Sumpfdotterblume

• Hungarian: Golyahir, Mocsari Golyahir, Seltszer-Mosztika

• LINGUA IGNOTA: Fulzia

• Polish: Kaczyniec, Kaczyńce, Kalmus, Kaleznik Blotny

Europe, Eastern

• Estonian: Kabbeleja, Käenkellu

• Russian: Kaluzhnitsa

• Serbian: Mokric

Europe, Northern

• Danish: Blaermandblom, Blaerrod, Kabbeleje

• Icelandic: Salradska, Slaettenkupur

• Norwegian: Bekkeblom, Boublom, Gaukeblon, Sumppdotterblomst

• Swedish: Dotterblom

Europe, Southern

• Asturian: Caleyendo

• Italian: Calta Palustre, Ranuolo

• Latin: Trollius

• Spanish: Baccara

Europe, Western

• Dutch: Butterbloem, Chorbloem, Dotterbloem, Gewone Dotterbloem, Grote Dotterbloem, Moerasdotterbloem

• English: Marsh Marigold, American Cowslip, Bachelor's Buttons, Boot, Brave Bascinet, Bride of the Sun, Bull's Eye, Bullflower, Butter Blob, Buttercup, Butterflower, Butterwort, Care, Common Marsh Marigold, Cowbloom, Cowflock, Cowlily, Cowslip, Crazy Beth, Crowfoot, Cup, Death Flower, Dragon's Flower, Drunkard, Goblet, Gold, Gold Flower, Golding, Horse Blob, Kalathos, King's Cup, Kingcob, Lefthand-Iron, Mare Blob, Marybud, May Blob, Mayflower, Meadow Bout, Meadow Buttercup, Meadow Cowslip, Meadow Gowan, Mollyblob, Publican's Cloak, Publican-and-Sinner, Shining Herb, Soldier's Button, Water Blob, Water Boot, Water Bubble, Water Buttercup, Water Dragon, Water Goggles, Water Gowan, Yellow Boots, Yellow Gowan, Yolk of Egg

• French: Bouton D'or, Caltha Des Marais, Couillon De Marais, Fleur De Souci, Populage, Populage Des Marais, Safran Des Pres, Sauterfleur, Souci D'eau

• Irish: Sláinte

• Manx: Bafeirge Mhuigh-Cheilagh

• Scottish Gaelic: Fior-Bhuidhe, Sciuch

• Welsh: Caap

• America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Saskatchewan, Yukon), United States (Alaska (Aleutian Islands), Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin)

• Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tibet

• Asia, East: China (North-Central, South-Central, Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang), Japan, Korea

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Islands, Magadan, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, Sakhalin, South European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)

• Asia, South: Afghanistan, India (Assam), Nepal, Pakistan

• Asia, Southeast: Myanmar

• Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey

• Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

• Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine

• Europe, Northern: Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

• Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Baleares), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain

• Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland

Biome: Ditches, fens, marshes, and wet woodlands.

Marsh marigold is an herbaceous perennial 10-80cm (4-32in) tall with a hollow, hairless stem that is either erect or decumbent. It dies in winter and overwinters with buds near the surface of the marshy soil. It has numerous strongly branching roots 2-3mm (~1⁄8in) thick. Its leaves are kidney-shaped with a heart-shaped foot, a blunt tip, and edges that range from scalloped to toothed along almost the entire margin but especially toward the tip. Young leaves are protected by a membranous sheath.

It usually produces several flowering stems which typically have 4-6 flowers but may have as few as 1 or as many as 25. The flowers are ~ 4cm (1.5in) across, but can get as large as 5.5cm (2.25in). There are four to nine petal-like, brightly colored sepals that range from yolk yellow, to white, to magenta, that are inverted and shaped like eggs. They can be blunt or come to acute points. They usually bloom between Apr and Aug, but can occur outside that range depending on altitude and latitude (which generally governs the time of bloom). When in bloom it usually visually dominates its environment.

It grows in marshy soil with oxygen-rich water. It favors nutrient-rich soils but does not do well with fertilizers and avoids phosphate and ammonium. It also dislikes brackish water. It does well near iron deposits, which react with phosphates and make them unavailable to plants. Such soil appears as "rusty" flocs.

Grows between reeds on the edges of lakes, as well as in black alder coppices and other regularly flooded or always-moist forests.

We typically don't talk about seed dispersal in these entries, but the marsh marigold has some curious adaptations. It forms about 200 seeds and, when the seed follicles open, they form a "splash cup" that expels the seeds when a raindrop hits them at the correct angle. Additionally, the seeds have spongy tissue that makes them float, so the water can carry them away to colonize other spits in the wet environment.

A white variant, seen in Kashmir.

Many of the names listed above for both this species and the primary genus entry come from the UK. Not much has been provided to us on the why of the names, but we have already provided many of our own musings on the subject in the compiler's notes.

This plant is a common subject in English literature, including in Shakespeare's Cymbeline, and Charlotte Brontë's Shirley, and the poetry of Thomas Hardy.

Gardens
Caltha palusitris is particularly popular in temperate regions for those who want low-maintenance gardens.

One of the plant's toxic chemicals was the mild irritant, protoanemonin. Studies suggest, however, that as a topical treatment protoanemonin has antibacterial function. Mild heating turns the protoanemonin to anemonin, a non-toxic chemical with some medical properties.

Consumption of large quantities of the whole plant can cause:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Burning of the throat
• Convusions
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Gastric illness
• Vomiting

Unprotected skin contact can lead to blistering and inflammation.

Plants that live in raw water may carry toxic organisms.

The pants toxins and any toxic microorganisms may by neutralized by cooking the plant. The buds and leaves are edible when cooked, but must be submerged several times in fresh boiling water until barely tender before they are safe to consume. These are popular cut into bite-sized pieces, salted, and served with melted butter and vinegar. Very young flower buds may also be prepared like capers and employed as a spice.

• The name "bull's eye" recalls the target employed in all manner of shooting practice. Someone affixed with a Caltha palustris on their person without knowledge of it may be cursed to draw the fire of everyone around them.
• In a gaming context, the above "bull's eye" idea might be employed more deliberately on the self. The "tank" character, usually someone in armor with shield, is intended to draw the attention of the enemy and "tank" the damage while the other members of the party maneuver and exploit the diverted attentions of the enemy. Such a character might employ Caltha palustris in charms to improve their ability to taunt and distract the enemy, or employ it iconographically on their shield or surcoat.
• Under the name "cowflock" it might be employed to great effect in the charms of a cattle rustler.
• Its positive reaction to high concentrations of iron seems like it would be a good sign for iron prospectors.
• "Cowslip" (a name it shares with [Primula veris])is undoubtedly a reference to the swelling of the lip that comes from a cow coming into contact with the toxic chemicals of this plant. Because "cow" is also an insulting way to describe a woman, it might be employed in a silencing curse. The caster would, naturally, regard the target woman in that unflattering light, which would confine this curse to within a domestic or small community environment, silencing the woman of his or her contempt by a painful swelling of the lips. Could also be done not to silence but to inconvenience or humiliate in social circumstances.

Chinese Marsh Marigold (Caltha scaposa)

Caltha scaposa

Asia, East

• Chinese: Jin Lian

Europe, Central

• German: Stelzenblume

Europe, Western

• English: Tibetan Marsh Marigold, Chinese Marsh Marigold, Five Petal Marsh Marigold, Mountain Marsh Marigold, Scapose Marsh Marigold

• Asia, Central: Tibet

• Asia, East: China (North-Central, South-Central, Qinghai)

• Asia, South: Nepal

Biome: moist alpine meadows and marshy streamsides.

Tibetan marsh marigold is a low-growing herbaceous perennial. It grows 7-24cm (2.8-9.4in) tall, with a thick rootstock that it heavily branched with many main roots. ITs leaves grow in a rosette with long petioles up to 10cm (4in) and heart- or kidney-shaped leaves.

It grows one or two flowers, with five to nine petal-like sepals with striking yellow coloration and a shape like an inverted egg with a blunt tip. It blooms between June and Aug.

In the Himalayas it grow at altitudes between 3,800-4,600m (12,500-15,000ft) and in China between 2,800-4,100m (9,000-13,500ft).

• Retained for name, distribution, and habitat.

Floating Marsh Marigold (Caltha natans)

Caltha natans

Asia, East

• Japanese: Kōhone

Europe, Central

• Czech: Kalužnice Plovoucí

• German: Schwimmende Dotterblume

• Polish: Kaczyniec Plywajacy

Europe, Eastern

• Lithuanian: Plaukiančioji Puriena

• Slovenian: Plavajoči Kalužnik

Europe, Northern

• Swedish: Vattenkalvleka, Vattenkalv

Europe, Western

• English: Floating Marsh Marigold, Floating Water Marigold, Swimming Marsh Marigold

• America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon), United States (Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin)

• Asia, East: China (Inner Mongolia), North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia

• Asia, Northern: Russia (Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Magadan, Primorye, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)

Biome: Aquatic

Floating marsh marigold is an aquatic herbaceous perennial. It's noted for its low morphological variation. It favors shallow water with floating leaves up to 2.5cm (~1in) wide and 5cm (2in) long with petioles up to 7cm (2.8in) long.

The flowers are ~ 0.5cm (o.2in) in diameter, with 5 white or pink petal-like sepals. They bloom from June to Aug.

They grow in shallow, slow-moving streams and creeks, as well as pools, ditches, and sheltered lake margins, swamps, and beaver ponds. The stems root in mud, silt, or clay. They may grow as scattered individuals or in dense mats of many plants. It will also grow with other plants, such as manna grass, sedge, pondweed, and bladderwort.

• Retained for name, distribution, and habitat.

* * * * * * *

Prestigious Plants

• Plants
• Flowers
• Trees
• Ferns
• Moss and Lichen [Pending]
• Fungi [Pending]
• Cladistic Index
• Herbal Medicine [Pending]
• Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

Other Ranunculales

• Berberidaceae
• Barberry
• Lardizabalaceae
• Dead Man's Fingers
• Papaveraceae
• Bleeding Heart
• Celandine
• Fumitory
• Poppy
• Ranunculaceae
• Adonis/Anemone/Pasque
• Clematis
• Columbine
• Coptis
• Hellebore
• Hepatica
• Larkspur
• Love in a Mist
• Monkshood/Wolfsbane

[Img 01 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_eschscholtzii.jpg]

[Img 02 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_glaberrimus_1763f.JPG]

[Img 03 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus#/media/File:Ranunculus_macro.jpg]

[Img 04 - https://web.unbc.ca/~fsty201/plant_page.php?familyname=RANUNCULACEAE&plantname=Ranunculus%20acris&commonname=Meadow%20buttercup&plantimage=Ranunculus%20acris-spring%20image-flowers.jpg]

[Img 05 - https://www.olddairynursery.com/products/ranunculus-aconitifolius]

[Img 06 - https://www.uksouthwest.net/wildflowers/ranunculaceae/ranunculus-ophioglossifolius1.html]

[Img 07 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bulbous_Buttercup_(Ranunculus_bulbosus)_-_Flickr_-_Jay_Sturner_(4).jpg]

[Img 08 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_bulbosus_004.JPG]

[Img 09 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_bullatus.JPG]

[Img 10 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Creeping_butercup_close_800.jpg]

[Img 11 - https://www.i-flora.com/unsere-apps/iflora-deutschland/arten/art/show/ranunculus-lanuginosus.html]

[Img 12 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_arvensis#/media/File:Acker-Hahnenfuss-Bl%C3%BCte.jpg]

[Img 13 - https://naturebftb.co.uk/2018/05/01/time-to-get-growing/r-arvensis-seeds/]

[Img 14 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_auricomus#/media/File:Ranunculus_auricomus.jpg]

[Img 15 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_gramineus_kz05.jpg]

[Img 16 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_lingua#/media/File:Boterbloem_grote,_Zandweteringpark_Deventer.jpg]

[Img 17 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_illyricus#/media/File:Ranunculus_illyricus_OB10.1.jpg]

[Img 18 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_montanus#/media/File:Ranunculus_montanus01.jpg]

[Img 19 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_asiaticus#/media/File:Persian_Buttercup_01.jpg]

[Img 20 - https://www.uksouthwest.net/wildflowers/ranunculaceae/ranunculus-sardous3.html]

[Img 21 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_nivalis_Kilpisjarvi_2012-07.jpg]

[Img 22 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_muricatus#/media/File:Ranunculus_muricatus_DSC00937_(3300281211).jpg]

[Img 23 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_aquatilis#/media/File:Ranunculus_aquatilis_plant.jpg]

[Img 24 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_peltatus#/media/File:RanunculusPeltatus2.jpg]

[Img 25 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_fluitans#/media/File:Ranunculus_fluitans.jpg]

[Img 26 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficaria_verna#/media/File:Flowers_(2425723494)_cropped.jpg]

[Img 27 - https://www.brickfieldspark.org/data/lessercelandine.htm]

[Img 28 - https://www.brickfieldspark.org/data/lessercelandine.htm]

[Img 29 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha#/media/File:Michigan_Marsh_Marigolds.jpg]

[Img 30 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris#/media/File:Caltha_palustris_plant.JPG]

[Img 31 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris#/media/File:White_marsh_marigold_01.jpg]

[Img 32 - https://efloraofindia.com/efi/caltha-scaposa/]

[Img 33 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_natans#/media/File:Caltha_natans.jpg]

-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons.

-Roux, Jessica. Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020.

-Skinner, Charles M. "Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits, and Plants : In All Ages and in All Climes : Skinner, Charles M. (Charles Montgomery), 1852-1907 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming." Internet Archive, Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Co., 1 Jan. 1970, https://archive.org/details/mythslegendsoffl00skin.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_natans)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_scaposa)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficaria)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficaria_verna)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_aconitifolius)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_acris)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_aquatilis)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_arvensis)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_asiaticus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_auricomus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_bulbosus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_bullatus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_fluitans)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_gramineus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_illyricus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_lanuginosus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_lingua)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_montanus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_muricatus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_nivalis)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_ophioglossifolius)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_peltatus)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_repens)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_sardous)