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The buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is a perennial herb of the family Ranunculaceae. The lower leaves are deeply divided into three to seven, ovate or wedge-shaped and toothed or further divided into segments. The stem leaves are similar but smaller. The flowers have five erect sepals, five glossy yellow petals and numerous stamens.
Buttercups were so named because it was thought they increased the butter yield when cows were fed on pasture containing the flowers. However, it is more likely that such pastures as contained buttercups were sound, dry old pastures which afforded better fodder for the cows, and the presence of the buttercups simply
Indicated the quality of the pasture without themselves contributing.
 Research Buttercup
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