Ranunculus sceleratus - Celery-Leaved Buttercup

Family:	Ranunculaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, mainly in northern and central areas..

Ranunculus sceleratus (Celery-Leaved Buttercup) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 0and is vunerable to frost.
Celery-Leaved Buttercup will flower in November to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Flies, self

Soil Information

Celery-Leaved Buttercup will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Celery-Leaved Buttercup prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Celery-Leaved Buttercup can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

In and by slow streams, ditches and shallow ponds of mineral rich water and muddy bottoms, avoiding acid soils[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

A plant of boggy soils and shallow water, it prefers a loamy soil and a sunny position. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Young plant cooked[2, 105]. It is said to be not unwholesome if the plant is boiled and the water thrown away[4] and then the plant cooked again[272]. Caution is strongly advised, see the notes above on toxicity and below on medicinal uses.

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The celery-leafed buttercup is one of the most virulent of our native plants[4]. The whole plant is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and emmenagogue and rubefacient[21, 240]. When bruised and applied to the skin it raises a blister and creates a sore that is by no means easy to heal. If chewed it inflames the tongue and produces violent effects[4]. The herb should be used fresh since it loses its effects when dried[21]. The leaves and the root are used externally as an antirheumatic[218]. The seed is tonic and is used in the treatment of colds, general debility, rheumatism and spermatorrhoea[218].

• Acrid - Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.
• Anodyne - Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
• Antirheumatic - Treats rheumatism.
• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Rubefacient - A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. This plant is unlikely to need much assistance. Division in spring.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous when fresh, the toxins are destroyed by heat or by drying[4, 10, 19, 21, 65]. The plant also has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[65, 183].

Other Uses

An extract of the leaves can be used as a fungicide[65].

• Fungicide - Arrests the growth of, or kills, fungi.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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