The Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)
	Family Description Plants in this family are all perennial herbs. They all produce vegetative growth year after year. The flowers have both male and female parts (hermaphrodite) and are often showy. They always have many male stamens, which produce pollen.
	Of course, the Buttercup Family includes Buttercups. It also includes other close relations, such as Wolfsbane, Larkspurs, Clematis, Crowfoot and Celandine. The structure of these plants dies away during the winter, but a root-like food store (called a tuber) survives underneath the ground. In the spring, a new plant grows up through the soil from the tuber. All plants in the Buttercup Family undergo this process. From the Buttercup Family, you can explore: Bulbous Buttercup River Water Crowfoot Clematis (Traveller's Joy)
	Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus   As well as the Bulbous Buttercup, there are many other types of buttercup to be found in Britain, including Meadow, Celery-leafed, Hairy, Small-flowered and Creeping Buttercup.	The flower of the Buttercup is a golden-yellow. It can be found in meadows and it was natural for people to name the flower "buttercup" because it was linked with the yellow of butter and cream, produced from the milk of grazing cows. Buttercups are sometimes known as "Butter and Cheese", or "Bachelor's Buttons". If rubbed into the skin, the Bulbous Buttercup causes blisters. Most buttercups have a bitter taste and are poisonous if eaten. The poisons protect these little plants, as grazing animals avoid eating them.
	Habitat	Bulbous Buttercup Dry pastures and grassy slopes Open spaces and meadow Well-drained and limestone soils Meadow Buttercup Damp meadows and pastures Open spaces and meadow Grassy woodland and ditches Celery-leafed Buttercup Very wet places, such as wet marshes, shallow pools, the edges of slow-moving streams, rivers and lakes and muddy places Fertile, mineral-rich soils, or soils that have been deposited by flowing water (alluvial soils).
	Special features	The Bulbous Buttercup has a swollen, bulb-like stem base, hence the name. The stalks are furry.
	Reproduction	The male pollen is spread to the female parts of the flowers by insects - especially honey bees - which are attracted to nectar by the shining golden petals. The fruits are dry and contain a single seed.
	Distribution	Seasonal Distribution The Bulbous Buttercup flowers earlier than the other common buttercups, throughout March, April, May, June and July. Geographical Distribution The Bulbous Buttercup is often found in dry meadows throughout the British Isles. It is quite common in the south of England, on limestone soils and becomes less common in the North. It can be found on Grassy habitats, in meadows, pastures, road-verges, grass banks and on grassy mountain slopes up to a height of 2,500 m.
	Folklore	On May Day the Irish used to rub buttercups onto cows udders, a tradition to supposedly encourage milk production. In some places, this tradition continues.
	Fun Fact	Buttercup flowers seem more golden than they actually are because the orange colour of the pollen reflects on the shiny inside of the petals.
	River Water Crowfoot Ranunculus fluitans River Water Crowfoot is an aquatic plant, found in fresh water. It is part of the Buttercup Family. The flowers are white. It is a greenish-black colour overall. A close relative of River Water Crowfoot
	Habitat	River Water Crowfoot likes low nutrient and calcium-rich water.
	Special features	River Water Crowfoot is adapted to fast flowing water and, unlike Common Water Crowfoot (pictured above) it has no floating leaves. Instead, the leaves are found under the water and are split lengthways into long strands. This prevents the leaves from being damaged by strong currents, because the water can pass straight through.
	Reproduction	The structure of the Water Crowfoot dies away during the winter, but a root-like food store survives underneath the mud, at the bottom of the water. In the spring, a new plant grows up through the mud from the tuber. The flowers of this plant can fruit and produce seeds.
	Distribution	Geographical Distribution River Water Crowfoot can be found in south Scotland and southwards, but it is rare in Wales and Southwest England. Seasonal Distribution It flourishes during June, July and August.
	Fun Fact	River Water Crowfoot is also known as "Bacon and Eggs".

	Clematis (Traveller's Joy) Clematis vitalba	Clematis is a woody climber. It was named "Traveller's Joy" because it is often found in hedgerows along the sides of roads, and is seen by many travellers.
	Habitat	Hedgerows, woodland margins. Calcareous soils.
	Special features	The flowers are pale greenish white, and fragrant. Its bark is peeling and fibrous. The leaves are pinnate, with toothed leaflets.
	Reproduction	The fruits produce large feathery, silky, white strands. A seed can be found at then end of each strand, and is wafted away on the breeze.
	Distribution Traveller's Joy in the winter time	Seasonal Flowers can be found from July to September. The feathery white strands can be found well into the winter. Geographic Mostly in lowland areas, in southern Britain. Has also been introduced to Scotland and Ireland.
	Folklore	On the one hand, Traveller's Joy was associated with the Devil and witches, because it was thought to choke other plants to death. On the other hand, it was associated with the Virgin Mary, and God, because of its white and mystical feathery fruits.
	Fun Fact	This plant is also known as "Old Man's Beard" because of the white feathery fruit structures.