Lesser Celandine - Pilewort, Fig buttercup
Ranunculus ficaria

Family: Ranunculaceae

What it is like

UPDATE 11/4/2012: Ranunculus ficaria L. is a synonym of Ficaria verna Huds.

Ranunculus ficaria is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. It is not frost tender. It is in leaf from January to June, in flower from March to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles. 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 soil.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Woods, scrub, meadows, by streams etc, avoiding acid soils.

Nost of Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Young leaves in spring - raw or cooked as a potherb. The first leaves in spring make an excellent salad. The leaves, stalks and buds can be used like spinach, whilst the blanched stems are also eaten. The leaves turn poisonous as the fruit matures. Caution is advised regarding the use of this plant for food, see the notes above on toxicity. Bulbils - cooked and used as a vegetable. The bulbils are formed at the leaf axils and also at the roots. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. The flower buds make a good substitute for capers.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 2

Lesser celandine has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of haemorrhoids and ulcers. It is not recommended for internal use because it contains several toxic components. The whole plant, including the roots, is astringent. It is harvested when flowering in March and April and dried for later use. It is widely used as a remedy for piles and is considered almost a specific. An infusion can be taken internally or it can be made into an ointment and used externally. It is also applied externally to perineal damage after childbirth. Some caution is advised because it can cause irritation to sensitive skins.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating: 0

The flower petals are an effective tooth cleaner. ( See notes at top of the page before using the petals) The plant often forms dense carpets when grown in the shade and can therefore be used as a ground cover though they die down in early summer. This should be done with some caution, however, since the plant can easily become an unwanted and aggressive weed in the garden.

Teeth: Plants used to clean and care for the teeth.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Prefers a moist loamy neutral to alkaline soil in full sun or shade. A very common and invasive weed, especially when growing in the shade because this encourages formation of bulbils at the leaf bases. You would regret introducing it into your garden, though it might have a place in the wild garden. This is, however, a polymorphic species and there are a number of named forms selected for their ornamental value. These are normally less invasive than the type species. The plant flowers early in the year when there are few pollinating insects and so seed is not freely produced. The plant, however, produced tubercles (small tubers) along the stems and each of these can grow into a new plant. Grows well along woodland edges, and in the deeper shade of the woodland where it often forms dense carpets. The flowers do not open in dull weather and even on sunny days do not open before about 9 o'clock in the morning and are closed by 5 o'clock in the evening. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. This species doesn't really need any help from us. Division in spring.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover; Meadow;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 0-0

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

All parts of the plant are poisonous. The toxins are unstable and of low toxicity, they are easily destroyed by heat or by drying. The sap can cause irritation to the skin. Do not use internally. Stop using the herb if breathing problems or chest & throat tightness .

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ficaria verna. F. ranunculoides.