This Is Not a Buttercup
Published at 23:00 on 3 May 2021
Don’t let those five yellow petals fool you: the Large-Leaved Avens is not even in the buttercup family (it is in the rose family). It is part of a somewhat obscure (to non-botanists) genus of about 50 species which are widespread throughout the world, with species native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica.
This is a plant that many may be more familiar with in seed than in flower, as those yellow flowers ripen into burs that are often found attached to clothing or fur later in the season. Indigenous peoples used its leaves to brew a diuretic tea.
There are several native and several introduced buttercup (Ranunculus) species found in this region, including a very common weedy one. More on some of those later.