Lesser Celadine, Common buttercup, Pilewort
Ranunculus verna

Family: Ranunculaceae

What it is like

A small herb. It grows 5-20 cm high and spreads 20-60 cm wide. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are heart shaped and dark green. They are 35 mm long. The flowers usually occur singly and are 25 mm across. They are golden yellow.

There are about 400 Ranunculus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Caucasus, Crete, Estonia, Europe, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mediterranean, North Africa, North America, Norway, Romania, Scandinavia, Sicily, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves are boiled then eaten in salads and sandwiches or used in soups. The bleached stems are cooked and eaten. The bulbils and the roots can be cooked and served with meat. They are first soaked in salt water. The flower buds are a substitute for capers.

Leaves are sold in the local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, flower buds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Blyskac, Blystekm Favagello, Ficaria, Kanakoole, Katirnali, Lobiana, Purk'ak'ala, Varkal, Yaghot

Synonyms

Caltha hiranoi Tamura; Chelidonium minus Garsault [Invalid]; Ficaria ambigua Boreau; Ficaria aperta Schur; Ficaria boryi Heldr. ex Nyman; Ficaria bulbifera (Á. Löve & D. Löve) Holub; Ficaria communis Dum.Cours.; Ficaria degenii Harv.; Ficaria ficaria (L.) H. Karst. [Invalid]; Ficaria holubyi Schur; Ficaria intermedia Schur; Ficaria peloponnesiaca Nyman; Ficaria polypetala Gilib. [Invalid]; Ficaria pumila Velen. ex Bornm.; Ficaria ranunculiflora Moench ex St.-Lag.; Ficaria ranunculoides Roth [Illegitimate]; Ficaria robertii F. W. Schultz; Ficaria rotundifolia Schur; Ficaria stepporum P. A. Smirn.; Ficaria transsilvanica Schur; Ficaria varia Otsch.; Ficaria verna Ficaria verna subsp. bulbifera Á. Löve & D. Löve; Ficaria verna f. divergens (F. W. Schultz) Soó; Ficaria verna f. marmorata Priszter; Ficaria vulgaris J. St.-Hil.; Ranunculus ficaria L.; Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera Albert; Ranunculus vernus f. divergens F. W. Schultz;