Ranunculus bulbosus
Bulbous buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus )
The Bulbous Buttercup ( Ranunculus bulbosus ) is a flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae.
Description
The bulbous buttercup is a perennial, herbaceous plant. He attained stature heights of 15 to 45 centimeters. The stems grow upright. They are bulbous thickened at its base, so in the ground, hence the name " tuberous buttercups " comes from. The stems are projecting at the base, more hairy -fitting top. The leaves are deeply three-to fünfspaltig or -lobed. The basal leaves are trifoliate and have a terminal leaflet stalked.
The flower stems are clear furrowed or wrinkled. The flowers have a diameter of 2-3 centimeters. The five sepals are repulsed (as opposed to sharp buttercup ) and are hairy on the outside. The five petals are yellow nectar leaves. The flowers are protandrous, flowering period is from May to August. Pollination is by insects ( bees, Diptera ).
The fruits are nutlets, 2-4 mm long, keeled on the edge. They have a short, slightly curved beak.
The plant is diploid with a chromosome number of 2n = 16
The whole plant is poisonous. In the past it has been used as a folk medicinal herb.
Dissemination and locations
The bulbous buttercup is found in many parts of Europe. In the north, the spread to southern Scandinavia extends to the east to the Ukraine, but also to the Middle East. In the south, the species occurs also in the African Mediterranean. In North America, it has been introduced.
In Central Europe the species is widespread in the north rare. In Austria it is regionally endangered in the area of the Bohemian Massif and the northern Alpine foreland. In Switzerland and in Germany it is unthreatened.
The bulbous buttercup grows on calcareous grasslands and lean meadows and pastures. It prefers moderately dry to moderately fresh, nutrient-rich clay soils and is an outspoken Lehmzeiger. He climbs up to the montane altitudinal zone.
In the phytosociological system of bulbous buttercup is a Verbandscharakterart of Mesobromion ( Semi-arid Brome grass). It also occurs in fertilized meadows ( Arrhenatherion ), continental semi-arid grassland ( Cirsio - Brachypodion ) and in wet meadows ( Molinietalia ).
Ecology
The tuber stores, as well as more or less fleshy roots nutrients and serves as Überdauerungsorgan.
Subspecies
In Europe come from the bulbous buttercup to four subspecies:
- Subsp. aleae ( Willk. ) Rouy & FOUC. , occurs in southern Europe ( north to Hungary), the Near East and North Africa
- Subsp. bulbosus
- Subsp. castellanus ( Freyn ) P.W. Ball & Heywood, occurs only in Spain
- Subsp. neapolitanus ( Ten. ) H. Lindbg. , comes in the eastern Mediterranean, in Italy and in the Balkans before
Toxicology
In the fresh plants produced in violation of glycosidic precursors ( Ranunculin ) the strong skin and mucous irritant protoanemonin, which merges with the ineffective dimeric Anemonin.
Of superficial contact with the juice of fresh plants, there is redness and itching and there are bubbles. Internal use may cause burning in the mouth, vomiting, colicky abdominal pain, gastrointestinal and kidney irritation. The dried plant, however, is ineffective.
Use
The bulbous buttercup is rarely used as an ornamental plant for perennial borders and lawns. There are some varieties, such as ' Pleniflorus ' ( ' Flore pleno ') whose flowers are semi-double and have a green center.