Ranunculus 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. The petals are often highly , 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.