Buttercup (Family Ranunculaceae)

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup or Crowfoot Family; Latin rānunculus

"little frog", from rāna "frog") is a family of about 1700 species of

flowering plants in about 60 genera, distributed worldwide. The

largest genera are Ranunculus (600 species), Delphinium (365),

Thalictrum (330), Clematis (325), and Aconitum (300).

Family Ranunculaceae is extremely cosmopolitan, ranging from

frigid to tropical zones; however, most members are concentrated

in the Northern temperate zones.

Some Ranunculaceae are used as herbal medicines because of their
alkaloids and glycosides, such as Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal),
whose root is used as a tonic. Many genera are well known as culti-

vated flowers, such as Aconitum (monkshood), Consolida (larkspur),
Delphinium, Helleborus (Christmas rose), Trollius (globeflower).
The seeds of Nigella sativa are used as a spice in Indian and Middle
Eastern cuisine.

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