Celery-Leaved Buttercup, Cursed buttercup

Ranunculus sceleratus

Physical Characteristics

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.

Distribution

Europe, including Britain, mainly in northern and central areas..

Habitats

Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: 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.

Medicinal Uses

Acrid Anodyne Antirheumatic Antispasmodic Diaphoretic Emmenagogue Rubefacient 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].

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].