Buttercups are bright, cheerful flowers that belong to the Ranunculus genus, a name that comes from the Latin for "little frog"—perhaps because many species like to grow in damp places. They are a familiar sight in meadows and gardens, their glossy yellow petals shining like tiny puddles of sunshine..
The ranunculus family has around 400 species of flowers, including spearworts, water crowfoots, lesser celandine, and buttercups.
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| Buttercups Flixr |
The yellow sheen of a buttercup is due to a unique layer of reflective cells just beneath the surface of the petal, which bounce light in such a way that it gives the flower its signature metallic gleam. This trait is especially handy when you're six years old and trying to determine if your friend likes butter (the answer is always yes, incidentally).
According to legend, the name buttercup derives from a belief that the plants give butter its characteristic yellow hue (in fact it is poisonous to cows and other livestock).
In USA, the buttercups are called coyote's eyes, because the legend goes that once a coyote was tossing his eyes in the air and catching them again. Then an eagle snatched them, the coyote was unable to see, and so he made eyes from the buttercup.
The buttercups usually flower during the April or the May month, but can also be found throughout the summer season.
In USA, the buttercups are called coyote's eyes, because the legend goes that once a coyote was tossing his eyes in the air and catching them again. Then an eagle snatched them, the coyote was unable to see, and so he made eyes from the buttercup.
The buttercups usually flower during the April or the May month, but can also be found throughout the summer season.
Despite their charm, buttercups are mildly toxic. They contain a compound called protoanemonin, which can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress if ingested. Grazing animals tend to avoid them for this reason—though, oddly, drying the plant (as in hay) neutralizes the poison.
The phrase "buttercup" has found a second life in popular culture. It appears in terms of endearment, song titles, and pep talks (“Suck it up, buttercup”), although actual buttercups are more likely to wilt than toughen up.
Contrary to poetic assumption, buttercups don't yield butter or any kind of cup. But they have earned their place in both folk magic and children’s games—if not dairy production.
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