Ranunculus acris or the Buttercup is the common yellow flower seen in meadows across most parts of the world.
This somewhat variable plant can have very simple five petalled cup shaped flowers with overlapping petals or it can be double with multiple layers of petals. However they are always the same wonderful golden, sunshine yellow that has entranced us for millenia.
It has compound leaves with three lobed leaflets and the flowers are held aloft on long thin, hairy stalks to allow them to sway in the breeze.
In some parts of the world this plant is considered an invasive weed, especially New Zealand where it has developed a resistance to herbicides.