Sharp Buttercup (Ranunculus muricatus)
© Harry Rose
Introduced, cool season, annual, hairless or sparsely pilose herb. Flowering stems are branched and to 50 cm tall, usually much shorter. Leaves are 1–4.5 cm long and equally wide, shallowly 3-lobed with segments lobed and crenate. Flowers are 8–10 mm wide, with 5 glossy yellow petals and numerous stamens. Fruit are achenes 7–8 mm long with stout tapering spines on the lateral faces and a stout slightly recurved beak. Flowering is in spring. A native of southern Europe, it is a common weed of gardens, lawns, pastures and disturbed sites throughout southern Australia, but also invades wetter natural habitats in many areas.
Photo taken on 3 Oct 2014
Usage licence:
Attribution License