This spring some of the fields around here have had near-solid blankets of small yellow flowers.

Each flower clearly has five petals, many stamens, and many pistils. This fits the description of a member of the genus Ranunculus. I think this one is Ranunculus fascicularis (Early Buttercup). (Each flower also has five sepals, but they are attached below the petals and could not be seen in a view such as this one).

Here is a flower (and a yet to be opened bud) in side view. Each flower has five petals and in this particular flower two of the five petals have not emerged from the opening bud, while two of the five sepals are still attached (pointing toward upper right).

It is interesting that Ranunculus means “Little Frog” in Latin, possibly because of a preference for damp habitats. So that this spring we have had fields full of “Little Frogs”!