Ranunculus ternatus

Ranunculus ternatus belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial, so it lives for more than two years. Its native range spans southern China, Taiwan, and Korea's Jeju Island. It also grows in southern and south-central Japan. Kew places it in the temperate climate zone. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows on grassy river banks and low ground. It also grows in fields, on grassy slopes, and in forests. The habitat account lists sites below 1,640 feet [500 metres].

This small plant grows about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. The sources give no width for a full-grown plant. They give no leaf, stem, or root details for this species. Plants For A Future says it flowers from May through July. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. The sources do not give the flower colour or describe the fruit. The RHS lists traits of buttercups as a group. It does not give those details for this species.

Plants For A Future lists sun and part shade as suitable. Its species page says the plant prefers moist soil. It can grow in sand, loam, or clay soils. The stated pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. The source also lists garden beds as a place to grow it. But it says little is known about how to grow it. Its fuller growing notes draw on the whole genus. How well it copes with British cold is not clear. The source gives no firm limit for cold. It suggests outdoor growth may suit milder parts of Britain. This is an estimate, not a proven cold-hardiness rating.

The notes give two ways to raise more plants. Sow seeds, or divide plants in spring. Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Move young plants to their own pots when large enough to handle. Plant them out in summer. The sources give no pest or disease details for this species. Nor do they make clear how it spreads in gardens. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

The account lists no known use as food. Plants For A Future notes past healing uses of the whole plant. These include pain relief and care for eye complaints. It also lists headache, toothache, and malaria. These records do not prove that such use is safe or helps. The source found no poison record for this species alone. Its warnings about poison and skin irritation cover the wider genus. Those warnings do not prove this species is toxic. Nor do they give grounds to call it safe.