Ranunculus multifidus

Forssk.

African buttercup

Ranunculaceae Edible: Leaves, Roots, Tuber, Vegetable 1,322 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ranunculus multifidus, called the common buttercup in South Africa, is a widespread species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to Sub‑Saharan Africa (except West Africa), Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. It grows in wet areas. It is used in traditional medicine to treat sores and toothaches.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has swollen tubers. The stems are erect. It grows 1 m high. The leaves are mostly in a ring at the base. The leaves are twice divided and the leaflets have irregular teeth. The flowers are small and bright yellow. They are 2 cm across. They are on long branched, hollow stems.

Edible Uses

The leaves are occasionally cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The roots are eaten raw, and the tubers are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are occasionally cooked and eaten. The roots are eaten raw by boys.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in damp places. It grows in wet grassland and along river banks. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 2,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Arabia, Botswana, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Africa, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Notes

There are about 400 Ranunculus species.

Synonyms

Ranunculus pubescens Thunb.

Also Known As

Kapupuba, Kazibannyo, Khobedi, Sansamwa

References (15)

Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4. Kew.
Fl. aegypt.-arab. 102. 1775
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 53
Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 564
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 97

Show all 15 references

Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 215
Molla, A., Ethiopian Plant Names. http://www.ethiopic.com/aplants.htm
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 165
Pickering, H., & Roe, E., 2009, Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area. Helen Pickering, London. p 100
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 93
Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
Vinnicombe, 1976,
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
Williamson, J., 2005, Useful Plants of Malawi. 3rd. Edition. Mdadzi Book Trust. p 213
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew