Ranunculus is a very large genus in the Ranunculaceae family. Not all of them are tuberous and could be considered "bulbs".
Ranunculus calandrinioides, a summer dormant buttercup native to the Atlas mountains in Morocco, has a thick rootstock with fleshy roots. It is easily grown under cold glass. Grow it as hard as possible (ie don't keep it frost free under glass) and give it as much light as possible. I have also found that it keeps much more compact and much more beautiful if kept bone dry until mid winter. In this way growth does not commence above ground until early spring and is much less lax. (Watered in early autumn, after a summer rest it comes into growth well before Christmas.) Photos by Tony Goode.
Ranunculus ficaria is a common European species, dwelling in cool and shady places. The first photo was taken by Angelo Porcelli. The second photo was taken by Jim McKenney who wrote: "Shown here are two forms, both presumably forms of Ranunculus ficaria. The one on the right is typical of the several feral forms which infest local woodlots and gardens here in Maryland. The one on the left is a large-flowered form which grows in a local garden. This large-flowered form has been identified as Ranunculus ficaria ssp ficariaeformis."
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