Meadow buttercup is probably native in Alaska and Greenland and is now known as an introduced species across much of the rest of the world.
Meadow buttercup is a very common popular wild flower found in damp grasslands and moist pastures. Most grazing animals avoid this species because of its acrid flavor. The bright yellow flowers, up to 2.5 cm across, have five shiny petals and are born on branching stalks. After pollination by visiting insects about 30 seeds develop in a spherical fruit. The seeds can remain viable in the soils for several years.