Date: May 12, 2012. Location: F.W. Kent Park(map)
| Classification Hierarchy | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Subkingdom | Tracheophyta |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Ranunculales |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus | Ranunculus |
| Species | Ranunculus sceleratus |
Date: May 12, 2012. Location: F.W. Kent Park(map)
USDA Plant Profile Flora of N. America
Scientific Name: Ranunculus sceleratus
Common Name: cursed buttercup, celery-Leaved buttercup, cursed crowfoot. It was named "cursed" because it is often found amidst the unsavory and unsanitary conditions in and around the edges of stagnant fetid sloughs. It is also found in much nicer (though wet) environments.
Origin: Native (uncertain)
Notes: This plant is widely distributed in the U.S. and associated with wet areas such as swamps, sloughs, fens, and the muddy edges of lakes, streams and rivers. Susceptible individuals may suffer a dermatitis after skin contact with crushed plant material. See discussion of the term toxic for the plants in this family. R.sceleratus which is always in or near water is sometimes confused with R. abortivus which tolarates much dryer conditions.
Additional references: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Flowers: April; petals yellow, mostly 5 - each less than 6 mm long and with an uncovered nectary at its base; sepals green maturing to yellow and reflexed from the base, similar to petal size; seed head globular or cylindrical, pistils lack styles, fruit (achenes) develop a small beak beneath the stigma.
Leaves:Both basal and cauline leaves present, basal and lower cauline leaves reniform 3-lobed or parted, margins crenate.
Glossaries of botanical terms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
