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BUTTERCUP, SMALLFLOWER
 Buttercup, Smallflower
[Ranunculus abortivus L.]
DESCRIPTION
Smallflower
buttercup may resemble a wild violet in its early growth, but later in the life
cycle it produces upright stems that are slender and branch from the base of
the plant. Lower leaves are dark green and rounded, while upper leaves are a
brighter green and elongate with occasional lobes. Flowers, which appear from
April to August, are tiny and yellow with five petals. The plant can grow to
heights of 6 - 24 inches. Smallflower buttercup reproduces by seed. This weed
grows in both dry and moist environments and is commonly found in fields, waste
areas, and wooded habitats. It can be distinguished from hairy buttercup by the
lack of hairs on its leaves. In addition, hairy and bulbous buttercup have
lobed leaves, whereas most of the lower leaves of smallflower buttercup are
unlobed.
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Characteristic
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Description
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Growth Season
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winter annual or biennial or perennial weed
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Growth Habit
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upright
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Leaflet Number
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one
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Leaf Margin
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most of the lower leaves exhibit crinkled leaf margins, while
upper leaves tend to have smooth margins
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Leaf/Leaflet Shape
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most of the lower leaves are heart-shaped and unlobed, whereas
the upper leaves tend to be elongated and occasionally lobed
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Leaf Width
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Leaf Venation
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pinnate
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Leaf Arrangement
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opposite; whorled or basal rosette
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Root Type
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fibrous
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Flower Color
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yellow
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smallflower
buttercup
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smallflower
buttercup
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Note: Still not
sure this is the right weed? The Turf
& Weed Identification Decision Aid may help. Check the TurfFiles glossary for definitions
of unfamiliar terms.
CULTURAL
CONTROL
Perennial
broadleaf turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in
weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and
industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this
weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then
properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.
CHEMICAL
CONTROL
Smallflower buttercup can be
controlled with two, three, and four way broadleaf herbicides in the fall or
spring.
© North Carolina State University. This information sheet was prepared
by Fred Yelverton, Bridget R. Lassiter, Gail G. Wilkerson, Leon Warren, Travis Gannon, Jenifer J. Reynolds, and Gregory S. Buol. Department of Crop
Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, North Carolina State
University. Prepared July 15, 2008. Available on-line at
www.turffiles.ncsu.edu. This publication was made possible through a grant
provided by the Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education
(CENTERE) whose purpose is to support worthwhile projects that will benefit
both the private sector and the public, and protect the environment.
KEYWORDS FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE:
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