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Ranunculaceae
Ranunculus

not marked as a favorite taxon Ranunculus sceleratus Linnaeus var. sceleratus. Common name: Cursed Buttercup, Celery-leaf Crowfoot. Phenology: Apr-Sep. Habitat: Marshes, ditches, and stream margins. Distribution: The species is circumboreal, ranging south in North America (partly introduced, at least southward) to n. Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and California.

Glossary (beta!)

Subgenus: Auricomus. Section: Hecatonia.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Var. sceleratus is widespread and the only variety in e. North America; var. multifidus occurs in w. North America. The epithet has sometimes been misspelled ‘scleratus’.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, FNA3, G, GrPl, K1, K4, Mo3, NE, NS, NY, POWO, Va; < Ranunculus sceleratus L. — Fl2, GW2, Il, Mi, NcTx, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, W, WH3, Keener (1976). Basionym: Ranunculus sceleratus L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (name change)
  • Great Plains: OBL (name change)
  • Midwest: OBL (name change)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image #1 of Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus© John Hayden
image #2 of Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, succulent annual/short-lived perennial of marshes, ditches, and stream margins.

Stems: Stems hollow, succulent, freely branching, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem; basal and lower leaves succulent, long-petiolate, kidney-shaped, to 3 in. long and wide, deeply divided into 3 (-5) lobes with rounded teeth; upper leaves smaller and usually divided into 3 oblong segments.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary on furry stalks at top of stem and from upper leaf axils, bright yellow, 1/4-13 in. wide, with 3-5 shiny yellow, spreading, oblong petals; 3-5 yellow-green sepals of similar length (later recurving); and a green, compound ovary surrounded by a ring of yellow stamens in the center.

Fruits: Fruit an elliptic to cylindric cluster of tiny, yellowish achenes.

Comments:

Height: 4-20 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect, succulent annual/short-lived perennial of marshes, ditches, and stream margins.

stems: Stems hollow, succulent, freely branching, smooth.

leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem; basal and lower leaves succulent, long-petiolate, kidney-shaped, to 3 in. long and wide, deeply divided into 3 (-5) lobes with rounded teeth; upper leaves smaller and usually divided into 3 oblong segments.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary on furry stalks at top of stem and from upper leaf axils, bright yellow, 1/4-13 in. wide, with 3-5 shiny yellow, spreading, oblong petals; 3-5 yellow-green sepals of similar length (later recurving); and a green, compound ovary surrounded by a ring of yellow stamens in the center.

fruits: Fruit an elliptic to cylindric cluster of tiny, yellowish achenes.

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