[Buttercups and Crowsfeet: The Genus Ranunculus West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Lesser Celandine

Ficaria verna

Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera

Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera) - Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera)

Lesser celandine at left spreading aggressively in disturbed soils along Johnson Creek to the west of Linneman Junction in southwestern Gresham, OR.......April 9, 2011. It is now also spreading rapidly in yards and waste areas throughout Gresham, OR.....March 3, 2023. The leaves begin appearing by late November, early December..

Underside of the flower of Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera) - Close-up of the flower of Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera)

Leaf blade of Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera) - Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera)

Additional close-up photos of lesser celandine as seen along Johnson Creek to the west of Linneman Junction in southwestern Gresham, OR........April 9, 2011.

Close-up of the tubers of Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera)

A close-up of the underground tubers of lesser celandine as seen in the webmaster's garden in Gresham, Oregon..........February 5, 2012. Unfortunately, the tubers allow this weedy species to spread quickly in disturbed areas.

Lesser Celandine: Ficaria verna (Synonyms: Ranunculus ficaria, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. bulbifera, Ranunculus ficaria ssp. calthifolilus, Ranunculus ficaria var. bulbifera)

Lesser celandine (var. purpurea) blooming in the webmaster's garden where it slowly spreads. Variety bulbifera (with green leaves) spreads much more rampantly and can be considered an extremely invasive weed.

Paul Slichter