Celery Leaf Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus l. var.
multifidus Nutt
Weedy annual, of a pale, shining, yellowish green color, juicy and very glabrous except the flower-stalks and upper part of the stem, which are occasionally hairy. The flowers are numerous, small and of a pale yellow. Easily distinguished by its broad, shining, lower leaves, which are on long stalks, the blades palmate, and cut into three divisions, which are notched and toothed. The stem is thick, hollow, furrowed and bears small sessile leaves, divided into three narrow parts, hardly toothed at all. The small, pale yellow flowers, about 1/4 inch across, are succeeded by smooth, oblong seed-heads. Blooms from June through September. Commonly located on shores, stream banks, mud flats, wet meadows, ditches, marshes and other wet places. This plant is
Poisonous Plant.
One of the most virulent of native
plants. It has an acrid juice, if applied to the skin it raises a blister
and creates a sore by no means easy to heal. When chewed, it inflames the tongue
and produces violent effects. When heated the water is intensely acrimonious,
and as it cools, deposits crystals which are insoluble, and have the curious
property of being inflammable.