Bulbous Buttercup, St. Anthony's turnip

Ranunculus bulbosus

Physical Characteristics

Ranunculus bulbosus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. It is not frost tender. It is in flower from March to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and Greece.

Habitats

Lawn; Meadow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked. A famine food used when all else fails[177], and I would rather give it a miss even then[K]! Root - must be dried beforehand and thoroughly cooked[105, 183]. When boiled, the roots are said to become so mild as to be eatable[2], though personally, I would rather give this one a miss as well[K]. See the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

Acrid Anodyne Antirheumatic Antispasmodic Diaphoretic Rubefacient VD The whole plant, and especially the sap, is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, rubefacient. It was at one time rubbed on the skin by beggars in order to produce open sores and thereby excite sympathy. The root has been placed in a tooth cavity to act as a painkiller. A decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of VD. Use this remedy with caution, see the notes above on toxicity.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous, the toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. The plant has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].