LESSER CELANDINE 9 



The fungus Entoloma microspomm forms round or spindle-shaped 

 swellings on the stem and leaves, and Puccinia perplexans infests it, 

 as does Pseudopezrza ranunculi. The beetles Prasocuris marginella, 

 a hymenopterous insect, Monophobius albipes, and a fly, Phytomyza 

 flava, live on it. 



The Latin acris refers to its bitter properties. It is also called 

 Bachelor's Buttons, or Bouton d'or in French. The English names 

 are Baffiners, Bassinet, Blister- plant, Bolt, Butter Creeses, Carlock- 

 cups, Clovewort, Crawfoot, Crazy, Crowflower, Crowfoot, Eggs-and- 

 Butter, Gilcup, Gold Crap, Gold Cup, Gold Knobs, Yellow Gowan, 

 Guilty-cup, Horse Gold, King-cup, King's Knob, Paigle, Yellow 

 Caul, Yellow Cups. 



It is called blister-plant, because used in Lincolnshire by the 

 " herb - women " for blisters. The common names buttercup and 

 butter/lower are said to be due to the supposed yellow colour of 

 butter from cows eating them, but more probably because of the 

 richness of the meadows where buttercups also grow. In reference 

 to the name Crazy, it is called an insane herb by country folk from 

 an absurd idea that its smell produced madness. 



Pliny, in his day, noticed that this plant and other buttercups caused 

 blisters like those caused by burning. It was thus used for removing 

 leprous sores. Caustic preparations are made from them, but the 

 bitterness is lost in drying; hence hay is eaten without blistering 

 being caused. In the fresh state cattle refuse it. It is even said 

 to cause blisters from merely pulling it up. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



8. 1 Ranunculus acris, L. Stem tall, erect, no bulb, radical leaves 

 much dissected, upper entire, calyx erecto - patent, carpels smooth, 

 glands of nectary with scale, receptacle glabrous. 



Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus Ficaria, L.) 



Owing to its soft carpels, perhaps, this plant has not been found fossil. 

 It is confined to the Arctic and Warm Temperate Zone, occurring in 

 Arctic Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. It is found in every 

 part of England and Wales as well as Scotland, from the Shetland 

 Isles southwards. In Wales it grows at a height of 2400 ft. It is 

 found in Ireland and the Channel Islands. 



The lowly Pilewort, to give it its other name, so unlike the usual 



1 The number in front of the specific description of a plant indicates its place in the Analytic Summary 

 at the beginning of Vol. I. 



