favicongohere
Invasive Species in Amherst State Park
Ficaria verna ssp. Verna - Lesser Celandine, Fig Buttercup
Infestation Photo
photo by WNY PRISM
June 5, 2015
Close up Photo
photo by WNY PRISM
JUne 5, 2015
photo by WNY PRISM
JUne 5, 2015
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna ssp. Verna) is a smooth, perennial herd with long stalked leaves, one yellow flower, and round clusters of hairy seed-like fruit. It is a member of the buttercup family and has simple, heart-shaped, glossy leaves often clustered at the base of the plant. It grows in shaded areas, steam sides and moist disturbed areas. The small bud-like bulb-lets often produced at the leaf axils are easily detached. They are dispersed by rain and easily grow into new plants. The roots often produce tubers up to 1” long. The plant has been implicated in the poisoning of livestock that grazed on it. Lesser Celandine flowers during the months of March through May.