Buttercup, Celery-leaved buttercup
Ranunculus scleratus

Family: Ranunculaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It is 20-70 cm high. The leaves vary in shape. The leaves near the base are stalked. They are 1.5-3 cm long by 2.5-4 cm wide. They are kidney shaped and with 3 lobes. The upper leaves are narrowly sword shaped with 3 lobes. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is dry, one seeded and in an oblong head.

There are about 400 Ranunculus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in wet and marshy places. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Europe, Falklands, Georgia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Siberia, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Vietnam, Wallachia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Leaves are acrid and poisonous unless treated. Young tender leaves are boiled then later cooked as a vegetable. The cooking water is changed. It can also be dried then cooked and eaten. They are pickled. It can be used as a fermented and dried green vegetable. The rootstock is boiled with rice and eaten.

Famine food. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution, roots

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds or from root offshoots.

Its other names

Local names

Baia, Bir-mani, Celery-leaved crowfoot, Cursed crowfoot, Dhungre jhar, Jaldhania, Jhal dhania, Maocan satnhan, Mon dhonia, Nagakor, Niakhura, Othukoshi, Ram-pa, Shim, Tanga-ngayoke

Synonyms

Ranunculus umbellatus Roxb. ex Willd.;