Ranunculus acris subsp. acris
Common name
giant buttercup
Family
Ranunculaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
RANACR
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Farmland (particularly dairy farms), roadsides, river flats, wetlands and anywhere else damp and warm.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Flower colours
Yellow
Life cycle
Seed and vegetatively by rhizomes and through nodal rooting (layering) of collapsed flower stems. The seed is easily spread via stock, agricultural equipment, flood waters and hay. Rhizome fragments are also spread by stock, machinery and flood waters. The longevity of the seed in the soil appears to vary depending on soil moisture and other climatic conditions. Rhizome fragments readily survive drought. (Hayes, 2014).
Year naturalised
1872
Origin
Europe, N. Asia
Reason for introduction
Accidental
Etymology
ranunculus: From the Latin ‘rana’ frog, meaning little frog and probably refers to the plants typical marshy habit where frogs abound
References and further reading
Hayes, L. 2014. What’s New In Biological Control of Weeds? Issue 67: Feb 2014. Landcare Research. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/71467/whatsnew67.pdf