ranunculus
ra.nun.cu.lus \r*-'n*n-ky*-l*s\ \-.li-, -.le-\ n or ra.nun.cu.lus.es or ra.nun.cu.li [NL, genus name, fr. L, tadpole, crowfoot, dim. of rana frog] pl : any of a large widely distributed genus (Ranunculus) of dicotyledo nous herbs (as a buttercup)