Lesser Celandine
|
Ranunculus ficaria
|
|
© Mandy Tu/The Nature Conservancy
|
|
Description
An ephemeral herbacrous perennial that has a basal rosette of dark green, shiny, stalked leaves that are kidney- to heart-shaped. In March and April, its eight-petaled, yellow flowers open, rising above the leaves on delicate stems. Along the stems of the above-ground portion of the plant, pale-colored bulblets form, but are not apparent until late in the flowering period. When in bloom, infestations of lesser celandine appear as a green carpet with yellow dots, spreading across the forest floor. There are several variations of lesser celandine, including a double-flowered form with many crowded petals and dark green leaves mottled with silver markings.
Habitat
Moist forested floodplains and drier upland areas; seems to prefer sandy soils
Distribution
Western Oregon and Washington
Impacts
Displaces and prevents growth of native species
Dispersal Methods
Animals and flood waters
Prevention
As lesser celandine flowers well before native species, enabling it to out-compete such species, look for this plant early in the flowering season (i.e. March).
Listings
Not listed
Factsheets
Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group Fact Sheet
Photos
http://www.forestryimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=lesser%20celandine
Distribution Map
Distribution in Oregon
Other Links
A 'Lesser' Spring Flower Becoming a Greater Problem - article from the Maryland Invasive Species Council website
|