how to identify buttercups

[leifus]

How do you distinguish between bulbous buttercups, meadow buttercups and creeping buttercups?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by leifus

How do you distinguish between bulbous buttercups, meadow buttercups and creeping buttercups?

The sepals on Bulbous Buttercup are 'bent back' over themselves.

The main difference between the other two is the structure of the leaves. Meadow is finely cut with pointed tips while Creeping is more robust and compact with more rounded tips, but both are the same general shape.

Hope that helps.

Adam

[RobSutton]

Creeping buttercup has "furrowed" flower stalks whilst Meadow Buttercup has smooth ones. The base of Bulbous buttercup is really quite swollen and you can usually feel it by pushing your finger tips down into the soil without needing to dig up the whole plant. The runners on Creeping Buttercup are also quite distinct and will root. Less easy to define is the fact that Creeping Buttercup often looks - well just scruffy!