Ficaria Verna Description

F. verna (Lesser Celandine) is commonly seen as a weed. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, who's plants often contain poisons. F. verna is no exception.

F. verna is a simple plant to identify with many features being easily recognisable over similar plants. The plant often prefers damp environments, sometimes carpeting woodland forest floors. The plant can also be observed on the banks of streams, gardens and roadsides and often prefers a bit of shade.

The first sign of the plant is the basal leaves. The flower buds emerge quickly after.

Similar plants include: Caltha palustris

STEMS
Green in colour, red in early growth. Glabrous.

LEAVES
Leaves basal. Petiole hidden beneath dense foliage¹. Elliptical to broadly elliptical, rotund in early growth². Apex obtuse-rounded. Base cordate, notched near base². Veins palmate netted, cross venulate. Glabrous. Margins slightly crenate.
Variegation close to margin on the blade; blotched. Variegation spots ± equal distance from one another, distance shortens approaching base². Variegation can be inconspicuous¹.

FLOWERS
6-10 petals^{(more examination required)}, yellow and orange closer to the receptacle. Underside of petals have red streaks during early growth. Many stamen, displaying a yellow colour slightly darker than of the petals. Many carpels, green. 3 sepals; white-pale yellow at base and green nearer apex³.

Gallery:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/213175720
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/213175707
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/154579743
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151398282

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Posted on May 5, 2024 04:13 PM by account120