Goldilocks buttercup

Appearance

''Ranunculus auricomus'' is a short, slightly hairy perennial herb which attains a height of about 40 centimetres , the basal leaves variably three-lobed. The stem leaves are few and deeply divided into 3-5 narrow segments giving the plant a filiform appearance. The flowers are frequently imperfect or distorted. They are bright yellow, the petals fall easily or absent.:114

Distribution

''Ranunculus auricomus'' is native to northern Europe and western Asia, approximately from latitudes 43 to 71 degrees and from western Ireland to the Ural Mountains. In Britain it is generally a lowland species but has been recorded at 1,090 metres on Aonach Beag. It is common in England and southern Scotland but becomes increasingly uncommon in the north and west, so much so that, for example, it is named in the description of the Nature Reserve of Coed Garnllwyd in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Habitat

''Ranunculus auricomus'' is a perennial herb which is characteristic of deciduous woodland growing over base rich soils such as those underlain by chalk or limestone. In addition it has been recorded growing among scrub, along roadsides and in churchyards, and infrequently on open moorland in locations which are sheltered by boulders and on sheltered mountain ledges. Flowering starts in April and peaks at the end of may and start of June, although these flowers attract pollinating insects the plant is incapable of being pollinated and reproduces by apomixis, the seeds developing from unfertilised ova.