Trollius is a genus of about 30 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae, closely related to Ranunculus. The common name is globeflower or globe flower. They are native to the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity of species in Asia, and usually grow in heavy, wet clay soils.

They are mostly herbaceous perennials with bright yellow flowers, though some have orange to lilac coloured flowers. The name "globe flower" refers to the petals of T. europaeus which are curved over the top of the flower to appear like a spherical globe; however, many of the other species have more open, flatter flowers.

All Trollius species are poisonous when fresh to cattle and other livestock, but their acrid taste means they are usually left uneaten. They are, however, used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Silver-ground Carpet.

More on [ Trollius ]

PLoS Medicine: New Articles


EurekAlert! - Biology

Feats of strength begin a lizard's day
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(University of California - Davis) Male Jamaican anole lizards begin and end the day with displays of reptilian strength -- push-ups, head bobs and extensions of a colorful neck flap, or dewlap -- to defend their territory, according to a new study.
Great Ape Trust graduate student's paper sheds light on bonobo language
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Great Ape Trust of Iowa) What happens when linguistic tools used to analyze human language are applied to a conversation between a language-competent bonobo and a human? The findings, published this month in the Journal of Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, indicate that bonobos may exhibit larger linguistic competency in ordinary conversation than in controlled experimental settings.
'Armored' fish study helps strengthen Darwin's natural selection theory
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(University of British Columbia) Shedding some genetically induced excess baggage may have helped a tiny fish thrive in freshwater and outsize its marine ancestors, according to a UBC study published today in Science Express.

Subscribe to Biology RSS feed