Consider-the-Lilies Web Gallery
Buttercup
The brilliant lemon-yellow blossoms of this import from Europe—along with dandelion, in Massachusetts where I was raised—have been placed under a child's chin "to see if you like butter?" for who knows how far back?
There are several varieties of Buttercup to be found in the Shenandoah Valley.
(Another May blooming member of the Buttercup family on display in the Gallery is the Marsh Marigold.)
The two displayed on this page—Bulbous and Common—are the most numerous.
The Bulbous Buttercup, left, first appears in April and will beautify pastures and meadows until well into May.
It carries the bulbous prefix because it has an enlarged root, not a true bulb, that provides a source of nutrition, allowing it to produce its golden blossoms each spring well before its cousins in the Ranunculus genus.
The later blooming Common or Tall Buttercup (right) makes its entrance in May and will continue to grace the fence-rows and roadsides of the Valley until well into September.
Growing as tall as thirty-six inches, it towers over the Bulbous variety, which doesn't exceed eighteen inches.
And although both sport distinctive golden-yellow flowers, there are a couple of other attributes that are helpful in distinguishing the two types:
One decided distinction is the coloration: The Common variety, although in full bloom, still retains some green in the center of the opened blossom.
The Bulbous Buttercup blossom (left) is totally yellow.
And, as you can see to the right, the sepals (outer protective coverings of the unopened blossom) of the Bulbous variety are folded back around the blossom stem when the flower opens.
Although Buttercup, as a genus, does beautify Valley fields from spring through summer, it is poisonous to some livestock.
In addition, these and some other Ranunculaceae can irritate the skin if handled.
Fortunately, neither I nor my playmates were sensitive to this plant when we performed our little tests "to see if you like butter!"
A historical comment I found interesting: One commentator noted that "beggars of Europe sometimes use [plants in this genus] to keep open sores for the purpose of exciting sympathy."
So, unless one wants to be found "exciting sympathy," look but do not touch—at least not very much!—and, of course, do not eat, either!
Any thoughts, pro or con? Why not drop me an anonymous note at the Comments page?
OR
Go back to the Main Directory to consider more lilies of the field.