Ranunculaceae is a family of plants commonly called the Buttercups family, or Crowfoot family. It is often associated with plants that have large solitary flowers that open into a cup. Due to their showy flowers they are are often found in herbaceous borders but also flowering climbers such as Clematis.

There are 43 included genera with the most well-known being Anemone, Aquilegia, Clematis, Delphinium, Helleborus, Ranunculus (Buttercup). Over 2000 known species of Ranunculaceae with Ranunculus, Delphinium, Thalictrum, Clematis and Aconitum having the largest genera. This family is part of the order Ranunculales that also includes the Papaver or ‘poppy’, a very similar flower.

This name means ‘little frog’ and is derived from the Latin ‘rana’ (frog) and ‘unculus’ (little). This is probably due to the plants being found growing near water, as in the Caltha palustris or ‘Marsh Marigolds’.