Bur Buttercup - Ranunculus testiculatus

A common weed rather than a noxious weed. But it is often confused with the noxious weed puncturevine.

*Often confused with Puncturevine
*It is one of the first plants that flowers after snowmelt, (many months before puncturevine)
*Grows clustered together into what looks like a mat
*develops sharp spiny fruit on top of stem (which is how it is confused with puncturevine)
*Small, yellow flowers
*Annual weed, native of southeastern Europe
*Commonly seen in gardens, pastures, wastes areas, and along roadsides
*Winter annual that emerges, flowers, and sets fruits in the spring, when temperatures climb into the 45 to 50-degree range
*Toxic species because it contains ranunculin, a chemical that changes into to protoanemonin, a highly toxic compound. The transformation of ranunculin into protoanemonin occurs when the plant is crushed. 
*There are reports of sheep poisonings after ingesting bur buttercup.
*It is important to control bur buttercup before they produce flowers and seeds
*Hoeing, pulling and digging can control bur buttercup, as well as certain herbicides

* Call 509-943-6005 or email BCNWCB@Frontier.com for control options