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. 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
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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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© John Hayden
© 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
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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:
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