"TheGardener" wrote in I have been e-mailed by a French student, who is
making a dossier on
Ranunculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy'. He wants to know if it is a
naturally
occurring variation, and if so, where is it found, or whether it is a
plant
which has been developed genetically and only available commercially.

Although I have the plant in my garden, I don't know the answer to the
above
questions. Can anybody help?

Found by Christopher Lloyd, growing naturally in a small wood ("Four Acre
Shaw") close to his home and gardens, Great Dixter in East Sussex.

Named and put up by him to the RHS who gave it an Award of Merit. He goes
on to say that there are other purple-leaved clones around that have
arisen as sports from Ranunculus ficaria.

(see: The Year at Great Dixter p. 48. by C. Lloyd. First published by
Penguin Books in 1987. ISBN No. 0-670-80982-9)

IME, it is fairly widely available at garden centres.

- Tom.