Lesser Celandine - Ficaria verna

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Alternative names
Ranunculus ficaria
Description

Low to short, tuberous rooted, hairless plant. Leaves heart shaped, rather fleshy, dark green. Flowers bright glistening yellow, turning whiter with age 20 to 30 mm, with 8 to 12 narrow elliptical petals.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Deciduous woodland, roadside verges, meadows and ditches.

When to see it

March to May.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 586 of the 617 tetrads.

Further Information

Look out for the associated fungi that grow on the leaves of Lesser Celandine:
Celandine Clustercup Rust (Uromyces dactylidis))
Bitter Chocolate Rust (Uromyces ficariae)

  • stepgray4
    Cloud Wood
    02 April 2021
  • Graham Calow
    All Saints Chuch, Sapcote
    15 March 2006
  • David Nicholls
    Aylestone Meadows
    31 March 2009
  • Rob Sayer
    Leicester, Fosse Recreation Ground
    26 March 2022
  • granniejo
    Billesdon Woodland Pool
    21 March 2023
  • Ken Charity
    Anstey. Summerfield Rd. Recreation Ground
    31 March 2021

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
766
First record:
27/05/2000 (MBNHS;Steve Woodward)
Last record:
27/04/2024 (Carter, Robert)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • David Nicholls
    Aylestone Meadows
    31 March 2009
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    07 March 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Aylestone Meadows
    31 March 2009
  • David Nicholls
    Aylestone Meadows
    31 March 2009
  • JamesCalow
    Broughton Astley
    20 April 2013
  • Ron.stevens
    Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
    03 April 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    22 April 2006
  • David Nicholls
    Crown Lane Mountsorrel
    19 May 2018
    subsp bulbilifer (bulbils)
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    29 March 2012
  • HAPeacock
    Leicester Garden
    29 March 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Jubilee Walk, Leire
    29 March 2011
  • Alan Semper
    Harby footpath
    09 March 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Holwell Nature Reserve
    15 April 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Croft
    02 May 2013