Ranunculus sceleratus
L.
Celery-Leaved Buttercup, Cursed buttercup
(c) pfaucher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by pfaucher
(c) Nathan Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nathan Taylor
(c) eileenapril, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves
Young plant cooked. It is said to be not unwholesome if the plant is boiled and the water thrown away and then the plant cooked again. Caution is strongly advised, see the notes above on toxicity and below on medicinal uses.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
Europe, including Britain, mainly in northern and central areas..
TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation-Far East (Far East), China, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (north), Nepal, Pakistan NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec (south), Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan (south), Alberta (southeast), Manitoba (south)), St. Pierre and Miquelon, United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Oregon (west), Washington (west), Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, Texas, California (north)). EUROPE: Denmark, Finland (south), United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden (south), Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Egypt (north), Morocco, Tunisia
How to Identify
Ranunculus sceleratus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.
How to Grow
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.
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. This plant is unlikely to need much assistance. Division in spring.
Medicinal Uses
Acrid Anodyne Antirheumatic Antispasmodic Diaphoretic Emmenagogue Rubefacient. The celery-leafed buttercup is one of the most virulent of our native plants. The whole plant is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and emmenagogue and rubefacient. 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. The herb should be used fresh since it loses its effects when dried. The leaves and the root are used externally as an antirheumatic. The seed is tonic and is used in the treatment of colds, general debility, rheumatism and spermatorrhoea.
Other Uses
FungicideAn extract of the leaves can be used as a fungicide.
