[Buttercups: The Genus Ranunculus in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Blister Buttercup, Celeryleaf Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup, Cursed Crowfoot, Division Blister Buttercup

Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus

Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus

Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus)

Celery-leaved buttercup growing in a stock pond at the Dalles Mt. Ranch, Columbia Hills State Park, WA........June 3, 2009.

Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus)Characteristics:

Celery-leaf buttercup is a low-growing annual wildflower with one to several freely branched and erect stems rising 20-80 cm from a cluster of basal leaves. The stems are hollow and do not root at the nodes. The herbage is mostly smooth or waxy although occasionally some stiff hairs may be found. The basal leaves have petioles about 2-4 times longer than the blades which measures 2.5-4 cm long. The blades are kidney-shaped and highly divided into 3 lobes, each with toothed or lobed margins. The stem leaves are numerous, and alternate along the stems. These are more deeply divided than the basal leaves.

The flowers are at the ends of the branches, and are borne on strong pedicels from 1-3 cm long. The 5 yellow petals are 2-5 mm long while the 5 yellow sepals are spreading and measure 2-4.5 mm long. The green receptacle (as seen in the photo at right) is ellipsoid-cylindric in shape when in fruit and up to 14 mm long.. The stamens generally number from 15-20.


Habitat:

Celery-leaf buttercup may be found in moist meadows, seeps and along watercourses. It easily moves into moist, disturbed places.


Range:

Celery-leaf buttercup is native to both Eurasia and most of North America north of Mexico.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 0'-2800' from near Troutdale, OR east towards Biggs Junction.


Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup, Division Blister Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus) - Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup, Division Blister Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus) - Flower of Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup, Division Blister Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus)

Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup, Division Blister Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus)

Examples of blister buttercup as seen in moist drainages at the base of sheer basalt cliffs along Interstate 84 about one-half mile west of Celilo, OR........July 27, 2011.

Blister Buttercup, Celeryleaf Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup, Cursed Crowfoot, Division Blister Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus)

Basal leaves of blister buttercup as seen on the muddy shoreline of the Columbia River between Dalton Point and Multnomah Falls.........September 26, 2015.

Flower of celery-leaf buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus


Leaf of Blister Buttercup, Celery-leaf Buttercup, Cursed Buttercup: Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus (Synonyms: Ranunculus sceleratus ssp. multifidus)

A stem leaf of celery-leaf buttercup from Hanna-Arbuckle Rd, southeast of Heppner, OR............May 6, 2000.

Paul Slichter