''Anemonoides ranunculoides'' (syn. ''Anemone ranunculoides''), the yellow anemone, yellow wood anemone, or buttercup anemone, is a species of

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial plant that grows in forests across Europe to western Asia, and less frequently in the Mediterranean region. It is occasionally found as a garden escape.

Description

Growing to tall, the plant is herbaceous, dying back down to its root-like

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s by mid summer. The rhizomes spread just below the earth surface and multiply quickly, contributing to its rapid spread in woodland conditions. The flower is about diameter, with from five to eight

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

-like segments (actually tepals) of rich yellow colouring. In its native range, it flowers between March and May.

Distribution

The native range of ''Anemonoides ranunculoides'' extends across

Continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous continent of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by ...

to southwest Siberia, reaching as far south as the Caucasus Mountains in Turkey. The species has been introduced into Great Britain and elsewhere. In Canada, there is a naturalized population at a well-known site in Quebec.

Cultivation

The plant is widely grown as a garden plant, especially by

rock garden A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small A ...

and alpine garden enthusiasts. It has been awarded an

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

or AGM, H4 (hardy throughout the British Isles) by the Royal Horticultural Society. The double-flowered form 'Pleniflora' (sometimes listed as 'Flore Pleno') is also a recipient of the award. ''Anemone ranunculoides'' 'Frank Waley', a larger-growing, more robust cultivar, is sometimes available, as are the miniature

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

''A. ranunculoides'' subsp. ''wockeana'' and a selection known as ''A. ranunculoides'' 'Laciniata', with finely divided leaves.

Related species and hybrids

Wood anemone, '' Anemonoides nemorosa'', is similar to ''A. ranunculoides'' but has slightly larger flowers (usually white, but they may be pinkish or lilac, often with a darker tint to the back of the 'petals'). ''Anemonoides'' × ''lipsiensis'' is a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

between these two species and has pale yellow flowers; it is often found where the two parent species grow near each other. ''A.'' × ''lipsiensis'' 'Pallida' is the best-known result of this cross. It has been awarded the AGM.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q55813571, from2=Q161045 ranunculoides Flora of Europe Ephemeral plants Medicinal plants of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus