SMZ1500 Fluorescence Image Gallery
Buttercup Stem
Buttercups are herb-like or softly woody flowering plants that have glossy yellow or white petals. This bulbous plant prefers damp places and is one of the first to bloom in early spring. Surprisingly, the delicate buttercup is a member of one of the largest and most primitive orders of flowers, Ranales. Fossilized pollen ancestral to the buttercup family dates back into the Early Miocene Era about 20 million years ago.
Buttercup petals are usually glossy bright yellow or white and are spirally arranged in the shape of a bowl. Although distributed throughout the world, these flowering plants are especially common in woods and fields of northern temperate zones. Its genus name Ranunculus means little frog -- a tribute to the many aquatic varieties of buttercup plants. About 200 species comprise the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, which includes a few shrubs and vines. The deeply cut leaves are said to resemble a crow's foot, which is another common name for the buttercup. Nearly all buttercups contain alkaloid compounds that are poisonous and can be fatal to humans, pets, and livestock. Well-known buttercup varieties include the marsh marigold and peony.
