Pennsylvania Buttercup

Ranunculus pennsylvanicus

Physical Characteristics

Ranunculus pennsylvanicus is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. 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 or wet soil.

Distribution

Northern N. America - Labrador to Alaska and south to Colorado.

Habitats

Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked[179]. The leaves contain toxins but in too low a concentration to be harmful[179].

Medicinal Uses

Rubefacient The plant is rubefacient[240]. It is used to raise blisters[240].

Known Hazards

Although no specific record of toxicity has been found for this plant, many if not all members of this genus are poisonous. These toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 13, 19, 62, 65]. Many if not all plants in this genus also have a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].