Localities.— I n meadows and pastures; very common. 
Perennial. — Flowers from April to July. 
Root somewhat tuberous, with many long simple fibres. Stem 
from 1 to 2 feet high, upright, round, hollow, mostly clothed with 
close-pressed hairs ; much branched at top, and many-flowered. 
Root-leaves on long, upright, hairy petioles ; in 3 or 5 deep divi- 
sions, the middle division 3-lobed, the side ones usually 2-lobed, 
all sharply, and deeply toothed, and more or less hairy ; stem- 
leaves of the same structure, but with shorter petioles, and fewer 
and narrower segments ; uppermost much smaller, in 3, strap- 
shaped, entire lobes ; or sometimes simple and strap-shaped. 
Flower-stalks round and even, not furrowed, covered with close 
hairs. Calyx yellowish, hairy or nearly smooth, spreading, not 
deflexed, deciduous. Corolla of a golden yellow, shining; petals 
nearly heart-sl raped, their nectary covered by a scale. Pericarps 
(seeds of Sm.) smooth, terminated by a nearly straight point. 
A variety with a double flower, is often cultivated in gardens, under 
the name of Yellow Bachelors' Buttons (see Curt. Bot. Mag. t. 215) . 
It has been found wild by Mr. Winch. 
The whole plant is very acrid and dangerous. Mr. Curtis says, that even pull- 
ing up the plant, and carrying it to some little distance, has produced a considerable 
inflammation in the palm of the hand. According to Linn je l'S, sheep and goats cat 
it ; but cows, horses, and swine, refuse it. — The leaves have been pounded and ap- 
plied as a poultice, when it produces a vesication like a blister. Rheumatic affec- 
tions have often readily given way to its use. 
Shakspeare’s Cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, are supposed to be the Butter- 
cup (see folio 141, a.) ; and he mentions it as the Cuckoo-flower in King Lear, 
Act iv. Scene 4. 
“ Nettles, cuckoo flowers, 
Darnel, and all the idle weeds.” 
Many other quotations alluding to this plant might be given from the Poets, but 
I have only room here to introduce the following beautiful lines, written by Mrs. 
How itt, and which cannot be otherwise than acceptable to those of my juvenile 
readers who have not seen that Lady’s delightful little book, intitled “ Birds and 
Flowers, and other Country Things.” 
“ Buttercups and Daisies — oh, the pretty flowers 
Coming ere the Spring time, to tell of sunny hours. 
While the trees are leaflless ; while the fields are bare. 
Buttercups and Daisies spring up here and there. 
Ere the snow-drop pcepeth ; ere the crocus bold ; 
Ere the early primrose opes its paly gold, 
Somewhere on a sunny bank Buttercups are bright ; 
Somewhere ’mong the frozen grass peeps the daisy white. 
Little hardy flowers, like to children poor. 
Playing in their sturdy health by their mother’s door : 
Purple with the north- wind, yet alert and bold, 
Fearing not, and caring not, though they be a-cold ! 
What to them is weather ! w r hat are stormy showers ! 
Buttercups and daisies are these human flowers 1 
He who gave them hardship and a life of care. 
Gave them likewise hardy strength, and patient hearts to bear. 
Welcome yellow buttercups, welcome daisies white. 
Ye are in my spirit visioned a delight ? 
Coming ere the spring-time of sunny hours to tell — 
Speaking to our hearts of Him, who doe.th nit things well," 
