Ranunculus – Buttercup etc.

Ranunculus /ræˈnʌŋkjʊləs/is a large genus of about 600 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus include the buttercups, spearworts, water crowfoots and the lesser celandine.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus

They are mostly herbaceous perennials with bright yellow or white flowers (if white, still with a yellow centre); some are annuals or biennials. A few species have orange or red flowers. There are usually five petals, but sometimes six, numerous, or none, as in R. auricomus. The petals are often highly lustrous, especially in yellow species. Buttercups usually flower in the spring, but flowers may be found throughout the summer, especially where the plants are growing as opportunistic colonizers, as in the case of garden weeds.

The Water crowfoots (Ranunculus subgenus Batrachium), which grow in still or running water, are sometimes treated in a separate genus Batrachium (from Greek batrachos βάτραχος: frog, etymology comparable to ranunculus itself). They have two different leaf types, thread-like leaves underwater and broader floating leaves. In some species, such as R. aquatilis, a third, intermediate leaf type occurs.

Ranunculus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hebrew Character and Small Angle Shades. Some species are popular ornamental flowers in horticulture, with many cultivars selected for large and brightly coloured flowers

Naming

The name Ranunculus is Late Latin for “little frog,” from rana “frog” and a diminutive ending. This probably refers to many species being found near water, like frogs.

The name buttercup may derive from a false belief that the plants give butter its characteristic yellow hue (in fact it is poisonous to cows and other livestock). A popular children’s game involves holding a buttercup up to the chin; a yellow reflection is supposed to indicate fondness for butter.

In the interior of the Pacific Northwest of the United States the buttercup is called “Coyote’s eyes” — ʔiceyéeyenm sílu in Nez Perce and spilyaynmí áčaš in Sahaptin. In the legend Coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them again when Eagle snatched them. Unable to see, Coyote made eyes from the buttercup.^{[citation needed]}

Splitting of the genus

Molecular investigation of the genus has revealed that Ranunculus is not monophyletic with respect to a number of other recognized genera in the family – e.g. Ceratocephala, Halerpestes, Hamadryas, Laccopetalum, Myosurus, Oxygraphis, Paroxygraphis and Trautvetteria. A proposal to split Ranunculus into several genera have thus been published in a new classification for the tribe Ranunculeae. The split (and often re-recognized) genera include Arcteranthis Greene, Beckwithia Jeps., Callianthemoides Tamura, Coptidium (Prantl) Beurl. ex Rydb., Cyrtorhyncha Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray, Ficaria Guett., Krapfia DC., Kumlienia E.Greene and Peltocalathos Tamura.

Toxicity

All Ranunculus species are poisonous when eaten fresh by cattle, horses, and other livestock, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. Poisoning can occur where buttercups are abundant in overgrazed fields where little other edible plant growth is left, and the animals eat them out of desperation. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, excessive salivation, colic, and severe blistering of the mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. When Ranunculus plants are handled, naturally occurring ranunculin is broken down to form protoanemonin, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in humans and care should therefore be exercised in extensive handling of the plants.    The toxins are degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe.

Selected species list

• Ranunculus abortivus – littleleaf buttercup
• Ranunculus aconitifolius – aconite-leaf buttercup
• Ranunculus acraeus – a newly described species from Otago, New Zealand
• Ranunculus acris – meadow buttercup
• Ranunculus alismifolius – plantainleaf buttercup
• Ranunculus andersonii – Anderson’s buttercup
• Ranunculus aquatilis – common water crowfoot
• Ranunculus arvensis – corn buttercup
• Ranunculus asiaticus – Persian buttercup
• Ranunculus auricomus – Goldilocks buttercup (type species)
• Ranunculus biternatus – Antarctic buttercup
• Ranunculus bonariensis – Carter’s buttercup
• Ranunculus bulbosus – bulbous buttercup
• Ranunculus calandrinioides – high alpine buttercup
• Ranunculus californicus – California buttercup
• Ranunculus canus – Sacramento Valley buttercup
• Ranunculus cassubicus – Kashubian buttercup
• Ranunculus crassipes – subantarctic buttercup
• Ranunculus cymbalaria – marsh buttercup
• Ranunculus eschscholtzii – alpine buttercup
• Ranunculus ficaria – lesser celandine
• Ranunculus flabellaris – yellow water buttercup
• Ranunculus flammula – lesser spearwort
• Ranunculus fluitans – river water crowfoot
• Ranunculus glaberrimus – sagebrush buttercup
• Ranunculus glacialis – glacier buttercup
• Ranunculus gormanii – Gorman’s buttercup
• Ranunculus hebecarpus – delicate buttercup
• Ranunculus hispidus – bristly buttercup
• Ranunculus hydrocharoides – frogbit buttercup
• Ranunculus jovis – Utah buttercup
• Ranunculus kadzusensis – makino, maehwamarum
• Ranunculus lapponicus – Lapland buttercup
• Ranunculus lingua – greater spearwort
• Ranunculus lobbii – Lobb’s buttercup
• Ranunculus longirostris – water buttercup
• Ranunculus lyallii – Mount Cook lily, reputedly the largest buttercup
• Ranunculus macounii – Macoun’s buttercup
• Ranunculus micranthus – small-flowered crowfoot
• Ranunculus moseleyi – Moseley’s buttercup
• Ranunculus muricatus – spinyfruit buttercup
• Ranunculus occidentalis – western buttercup
• Ranunculus orthorhynchus – straightbeak buttercup
• Ranunculus papulentus – large river buttercup
• Ranunculus parviflorus – smallflower buttercup
• Ranunculus pedatifidus – birdfoot buttercup
• Ranunculus peltatus – pond water crowfoot
• Ranunculus pensylvanicus – Pennsylvania buttercup
• Ranunculus platanifolius – large white buttercup
• Ranunculus populago – popular buttercup
• Ranunculus pusillus – low spearwort
• Ranunculus pygmaeus – pygmy buttercup
• Ranunculus recurvatus – hooked crowfoot
• Ranunculus repens – creeping buttercup
• Ranunculus rionii – water crowfoot
• Ranunculus sardous – hairy buttercup, Sardinian buttercup
• Ranunculus sceleratus – celery-leaved buttercup
• Ranunculus septentrionalis – swamp buttercup
• Ranunculus sieboldii
• Ranunculus testiculatus – bur buttercup
• Ranunculus thora – Thora buttercup
• Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix ex Vill. – Thora buttercup
• Ranunculus uncinatus – woodland buttercup

Gardenia

Gardenias are waxy, white and very fragrant flowers Gardenias are one of the most popular exotic flowers

Gardenias are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania. This species can be difficult to grow elsewhere because it demands high humidity to thrive and bright (not direct) light. Some types of gardenias can be grown as houseplants.

Kingdom – Plantae

Division -Magnoliophyta

Class -Magnoliopsida

Order  -Gentianales

Family -Rubiaceae

Genus -Gardenia

Gardenias symbolize purity and sweetness. They indicate secret love. They convey joy. They tell the receiver “you are lovely”.

ome Interesting Facts About Gardenias

• Gardenias are grown for their beautiful foliage and they make great cut flowers.
• Gardenias flowers from about mid-spring to mid-summer, i.e., May through July
• Many of the gardenia species are strongly scented.
• The genus Gardenia is named after Alexander Garden, a physician in Charleston of South Carolina.
• Gardenias can be used as screens, hedges, borders or ground covers.
• In France, Gardenia is the traditional flower which men wear as boutonnieres.
• The most popular cultivated species is the Cape jasmine, native to China.
• Each gardenia flower is followed by 6-sided berries of rich orange-red with long, elegant stems.
• Gardenia thunbergia produces a woody fruit which has hard, angular seeds inside.

About Gardenia Flower and Plant

Gardenias are very fragrant creamy-white flowers with glossy, dark-green leaves. Gardenia flowers are solitary or in small clusters, white or pale yellow. The gardenia flowers are with a tubular-based corolla with 5-12 lobes petals from 5-12 cm diameter.

Gardenia plants are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1-15 m tall. The Gardenia plant leaves are opposite or in whorls of three or four. They are dark green and glossy 5-50 cm long and 3-25 cm broad, with a leathery texture. They are simple, entire, hairless, with wavy margin.

 

Growing Gardenias

• Gardenia plants need high humidity.
• A loose, well-drained organic soil is recommended.
• For best results plant gardenias in full sun, partial shade, or shifting shade.
• Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball.
• Thoroughly mix one part soil and one part planting mix.
• Check that the top of the original root ball is slightly above the level of the surrounding soil.
• Take the soil mixture and make a gentle mound of soil sloping away from the plant so that the water drains away from the trunk.
• Remove any air pockets, if present.
• Water the plant with a root stimulator.

Gardenia Care

• Do not over-water gardenias.
• Fertilize with an acid fertilizer.
• Check for aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and scales.
• Also check gardenia plants for bud drop, a common ailment.

Sweet Pea

Did you know? Currently, almost every cultivar of the sweet pea is available in international markets, except yellow.

 

Sweet pea is a plant native to the Mediterranean region. Since they are annual climbers and grow in a wide spectrum of colors, they grow for a long period of time, and are the first choice for individual cut flowers and/or exquisite floral decorations.

Kingdom – Plantae

Division – Magnoliophyta

Class – Magnoliopsida

Order – Fabales

Family – Fabaceae

Subfamily – Faboideae

Tribe – Vicieae

Genus – Lathyrus

Species – odoratus

All sweet pea flower varieties are not fragrant, but the ones that are, live up to their namesake. This particular strain of flowers contains up to 160 species.

One must keep a constant eye on the flower throughout its lifespan, as it is prone to all kinds of pests and insects. Unlike the edible pea, seeds of this flower are not edible, and are known to cause toxicity.

Growing Sweet Peas

•  Choose a site in full sun with rich, well-drained soil.
• Sweet Pea vines need full sun and rich, well drained soil.
• Work in some compost before planting. Sweet Pea seeds should be sown directly where it is to grow.
• Soak seeds overnight then plant about an inch deep and 3-4 inches apart.
• Water thoroughly after planting, then restrict water until seeds germinate.
• Fertilize every two to four weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Sweet peas are heavy feeders.
• The Sweet Pea plant benefits from deadheading, but leave a few flowers at the end of theseason to seed for next year.

Sweet Pea Plant Care

• Plant Sweet Peas in an area that gets good air circulation.
• Water early in the day so the leaves are dry by nightfall; wet leaves are a magnet for fungus.
• Do not over fertilize or you’ll wind up with very deep green leaves but few flowers.
• Alternatively,organic fertilizers are also excellent for Sweet Peas. Additional mulching with composted manure will help retain soil moisture and provide nutrients for strong plant growth and flowering.
• If the blooms are not cut regularly, deadhead the plant as soon as flowers fade. Allowing the plant to produce seedpods will reduce overall flower production.
• Removing spent blooms will ensure more blooms.
• Do not grow sweet peas where other legumes are growing or grew last year.

Gifting Tip

Sweet Pea is the most popular gifting option world over, but don’t let this deter you into thinking that it will be a common gifting idea. Due to its availability in numerous colors and its ability to be styled into any kind of floral arrangement, it has immense scope for original, innovative arrangements every time.