Ranunculus sceleratus

Description

Ranunculus sceleratus is an annual herb growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves are more or less glabrous (hairless) and have small blades each deeply lobed or divided into three leaflets. They are borne on long petioles. The flowers 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.

While buttercups are toxic due to the presence of the substance protoanemonin, this applies in particular for the cursed buttercup: it is the most toxic buttercup and contains 2.5% protoanemonin. When the leaves are wrinkled, damaged or crushed, they bring out unsightly sores and blisters on human skin. All parts of the plant are considered to be poisonous. Side effects after ingestion can manifest themselves as extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. It may cause sensation of pain and burning perceptions, tongue inflammation, and intensification in salivation.

Distribution

Ranunculus sceleratus has a circumpolar distribution in the northern hemisphere There are two varieties and one subspecies with distinctive distributions: R. sceleratus ssp. reptabundus occurs in northern Finland and north-west Russia. R. scleratus var. multifidus occurs in north western North America, and R. scleratus var. longissimus is found from Minnesota to Alabama according to their biodiversity and plant atlases respectively. It is also distributed in Australia and New Zealand.

References

References

1. Maiz-Tome, L.. (2016). "''Ranunculus sceleratus''".
2. "''Ranunculus sceleratus'', Celery-leaved buttercup". Natural History Museum.
3. (2015). "English Names for Korean Native Plants". [[Korea National Arboretum]].
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5. Stace, C. A.. (2010). "New Flora of the British Isles". Cambridge University Press.
6. Abid Aqsa, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Sadia Zafar, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Ashwaq T. Althobaiti, Shazia Sultana, Omer Kilic, Trobjon Makhkamov, Akramjon Yuldashev, Oybek Mamarakhimov, Khislat Khaydarov, Afat O. Mammadova, Komiljon Komilov, and Salman Majeed. (December 2023). "Foliar epidermal and trichome micromorphological diversity among poisonous plants and their taxonomic significance". [[Folia Horticulturae]].
7. Anderberg, Arne. "''Ranunculus sceleratus'' (L.) Sw". Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm.
8. (2013). "The Plant List: ''Ranunculus sceleratus'' L". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic Garden.