Ranunculus ficaria

RANUNCULUS ficaria
Lesser Celandine,
Pilewort, Foal Foot

Type:
Perennial

Height: 4" (10 cm)

Flowering Time: Spring

Flower Colour: Yellow

Classification:

Class:
Angiospermae (Angiosperms)

Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons)

Superorder: Magnoliidae (Magnolia Superorder)

Order: Ranunculares (Buttercup Order)

Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Genus: Ranunculus (Buttercup)

Species: ficaria

Ranunculus ficaria is one of the earliest wildflowers to give us colour in spring. It is happy in woodland, damp meadows, beside streams and in gardens, on dry chalky banks and clay meadows, where it produces a flat circle of dark green, heart-shaped leaves, followed by shining starry bright yellow flowers. I welcome its flowers looking like miniature water lilies, but it spreads easily, by its tiny root tubers as well as its seeds, so many people find it a tiresome weed.
The name, Lesser Celandine, is misleading, as the flowers of Ranunculus ficaria are completely different from those of Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus), and it is not even in the same Family (Greater Celandine is in the Poppy Family).
Ranunculus ficaria has been used in traditional medicine to treat haemorrhoids and corns.
SOME PARTS OF THIS PLANT MAY BE POISONOUS
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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

Germination:
Seed self sown
in summer
germinated the
following spring.

Seed Pod There is no seed pod. The seeds are clustered together in a spiky ball.
Seed The seeds are small green grains.
Seedling The seedling has heart-shaped leaves.

(You can check the meaning of any technical terms new to you in the Botany section of the site)

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				Germination: Seed self sown in summer germinated the following spring.
Seed Pod There is no seed pod. The seeds are clustered together in a spiky ball. Seed The seeds are small green grains. Seedling The seedling has heart-shaped leaves.