Ranunculus
buttercup, crowfoot; the typical genus of the order Ranunculaceæ. Sepals five, rarely three, caducous; petals five, or more, or wanting, glandular at the base; stamens many; fruit of many achenes, each with one ascending seed. Known species about 160, from temperate regions. R. sceleratus was formerly used by beggars to create artificial sores; it is poisonous when raw, but is eaten boiled by the Wallachians. The juice of R. thora was used by the Swiss hunters to envenom their javelins. R. glacialis is a powerful sudorific. Many species are very beautiful, and are cultivated in gardens.