Lesser celandine
(Ranunculus ficaria)
General description:
Herbaceous groundcover with kidney to heart-shaped leaves and showy, daisy-like yellow flowers. Rapidly reproduces vegetatively by abundant tubers and above-ground bulblets.
Ecological threat:
- Thrives in partial sun and moist soils, but also tolerant of drier, sunny sites.
- Invades forests, wetlands and riparian areas, as well as upland areas and disturbed areas such as lawns.
- Infestations of this plant eliminate spring ephemeral communities in woodlands, which includes sensitive native plants.
- Noted as invasive in neighboring states with similar habitats. Extremely invasive in N. Ohio. In one Cleveland park, approximately 400 acres are dominated by this plant.
- Easily reproduces and spreads into new areas through bulbils and tubers, or seed.
- Plants are poisonous to livestock and humans.
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