Cursed Crowfoot

(Ranunculus sceleratus)

Cursed Crowfoot (Ranunculus sceleratus)

Bernard DUPONT

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Bernard DUPONT

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Bernard DUPONT | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: Bernard DUPONT | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Ranunculus sceleratus, commonly known as Cursed Crowfoot, is an annual or perennial herb native to a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, fens, ditches, and wet meadows in Eurasia and North America. It typically grows up to half a meter tall and thrives in areas with standing or slow-moving water. The plant has a somewhat fleshy stem and is more or less glabrous (hairless) with small blades each deeply lobed or divided into three leaflets, borne on long petioles. The flowers, which bloom from late spring to summer, are 5-10mm across with five or fewer yellow petals a few millimeters long and reflexed sepals. The fruit is an achene borne in a cluster of several, which are not particularly ornamental but are of interest to botanists and ecologists.

Cursed Crowfoot is not commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes due to its invasive nature and potential toxicity. However, it can be used in naturalized wetland plantings or for educational purposes in botanical gardens. It requires full sun and high amounts of water, and can tolerate a range of soil drainage conditions from fast to slow. Gardeners should be cautious as all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested and can cause skin irritation upon contact. There are no popular garden cultivars of this species due to its aggressive growth and the care needed to prevent it from spreading uncontrollably.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: 0.3-0.5 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: High
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, fens, ditches, and wet meadows

Other Names

Common Names: Celery Buttercup , Celery-Leaf Buttercup , Celery-Leaf Crowfoot , Cursed Buttercup , Marsh Crowfoot , Poison Buttercup , Blister Buttercup , Celery-Leaved Buttercup , Celery-Leaved Crowfoot , Tigger-Ranunkel

Scientific Names: Ranunculus sceleratus , Ranunculus scleratus , Ranunculus eremogenes , Ranunculus eremogenes var. pilosulus , Ranunculus sceleratus var. anfrayi , Ranunculus eremogenes var. degener , Ranunculus sceleratus var. minimus , Ranunculus eremogenes var. longissimus , Ranunculus sceleratus var. eremogenes , Ranunculus sceleratus var. longissimus

GBIF Accepted Name: Ranunculus sceleratus L.