What is "ranunculus aconitifolius"

Ranunculus \Ra*nun"cu*lus\ (r[.a]*n[u^][ng]"k[-u]*l[u^]s), n.; pl. E. Ranunculuses (r[.a]*n[u^][ng]"k[-u]*l[u^]s*[e^]z), L. Ranunculi (-l[imac]). [L., a little frog, a medicinal plant, perhaps crowfoot, dim. of rana a frog; cf. raccare to roar.] (Bot.) A genus of herbs, mostly with yellow flowers, including crowfoot, buttercups, and the cultivated ranunculi ( Ranunculus Asiaticus, Ranunculus aconitifolius, etc.) in which the flowers are double and of various colors.

Ranunculus aconitifolius ( aconite-leaf buttercup, bachelor's buttons) is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central Europe. Growing to high by broad,it is an herbaceous perennial with palmate leaves up to long, and panicles of white, saucer-shaped flowers in spring.

The leaves and stems are slightly hairy. Erect stems, palmate leaves and flowers in loose clusters characterize this species. This species forms clumps, sometimes large colonies in moist places in mountains, meadows, edges of ditches and streams.

The double flowered cultivar R. aconitifolius 'Flore Pleno' (fair maids of France, fair maids of Kent) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.