Practical
Plants

Ranunculus sceleratus

Celery-Leaved Buttercup

a perennial member of the Ranunculus genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are poisonous when fresh, the toxins are destroyed by heat or by drying[11][1][5][7][13]. The plant also has a strongly acrid juice that can cause blistering to the skin[13][4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young plant cooked[6][2]. It is said to be not unwholesome if the plant is boiled and the water thrown away[11] and then the plant cooked again[10]. Caution is strongly advised, see the notes above on toxicity and below on medicinal uses.

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The celery-leafed buttercup is one of the most virulent of our native plants[11]. The whole plant is acrid, anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and emmenagogue and rubefacient[7][9]. 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[11]. The herb should be used fresh since it loses its effects when dried[7]. The leaves and the root are used externally as an antirheumatic[8]. The seed is tonic and is used in the treatment of colds, general debility, rheumatism and spermatorrhoea[8].

Product or use
Acrid
Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Rubefacient

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An extract of the leaves can be used as a fungicide[13].

Product or use
Fungicide

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, mainly in northern and central areas..
Habitat
In and by slow streams, ditches and shallow ponds of mineral rich water and muddy bottoms, avoiding acid soils[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[12].

References

  1. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  5. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

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  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  7. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  9. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  10. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  13. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩1↩2↩3

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