If you can't beat them...

By Jerra

Meadow Buttercup ( Ranunculus acris )

Day 12 of my 30 days wild attempt.  There was a time when I thought a Buttercup was a Buttercup.  Eventually, I noticed there is a difference between them.  There are 7 species of UK Buttercup.  I only ever seem to see Meadow and Creeping.

When you see a field covered in Buttercups they will R acris.  There is a reason for this, the livestock know to avoid eating them.  They contain a substance that is poisonous to them.  The two commonest Buttercups are easily told apart.  Meadow Butercup is a tall slender stemmed plant growing straight, to reach above the meadow grasses.  Creeping Buttercup as the name suggests creeps along the ground and is altogether a much sturdier plant.

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