Ranunculus sceleratus Linnaeus var. sceleratus . Subgenus: Auricomus. Section: Hecatonia. 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. FL, LA, TX, and CA.
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, 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
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
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
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© John Hayden | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Ranunculus sceleratus var. sceleratus? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.
Horticultural Information
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.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
0 unsaved edits on this page.