NO one knows how many buttercup plants there are in the UK. But who can have failed to notice that every single one appears to have burst into bloom this week, turning verges, pastures, playing fields and neglected bits of gardens into a carpet of gold?

The reason we are graced with such a profusion of this enchanting flower? Well, according to ecologist John Crewe, who is Bournemouth Wildlife Survey Project Officer, the news is all good.

“People have stopped using so much herbicide so indiscriminately everywhere and also, councils don’t seem to be spending so much time and money just trimming verges and open spaces. They are leaving them for the habitat to grow and that is benefiting many other flowers, as well as buttercups.”

Most British children have, at some time, had a buttercup held under their chin in the traditional “test” to see if they liked butter.

But Ranunculus, to give buttercups their Latin name, has a darker folklore attached to it than those innocent-looking, golden flowers.

According to legend, Ranunculus was a young boy who lived many, many years ago, who always dressed from head to toe in gold and green silk.

He spent his days running round the trees of the forest singing in a beautiful, clear, high-pitched voice. And he never, ever stopped. The wood nymphs, realising this was disturbing the peace of the forest and all the creatures in it, turned him into a buttercup and sent him out into the open meadow to live; thereby restoring peace and harmony.

In the Pacific region of north America the buttercup is known as Coyote’s Eye. In the legend, Coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them again when Eagle snatched them. Unable to see, Coyote made new eyes from the buttercup.

In Sardinia the Ranunculus Sardos was said to cause anyone stupid enough to eat it to develop a contorted grin to their face – sometimes followed by death – which it is thought may have given rise to the expression, Sardonic smile.

And despite Buttercup being a favourite name for pet cattle, no sensible cow would munch fresh buttercups because of the irritation and toxicity caused by the sap.

As a plant, the buttercup was unusually said to have no medicinal purpose, although it was claimed that medieval beggars would rub the irritant sap into their skin to create sores, in the hope of gaining more sympathy – and money.

However, the plant is valued in the world of flower essences, the complementary treatment that uses the vibrational essence of a bloom to restore personality imbalances.

According the to FES Quintessentials Flower Essence organisation, imbalances such as low self-worth and inability to acknowledge or experience one’s inner light and uniqueness can be relieved by taking buttercup essence.

And, despite their darker side, who could fail to be uplifted by the sight of a field of dancing buttercups?