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Project Noah Nature School
Ranunculus sceleratus
Annual herb growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves have small blades each deeply lobed or divided into usually three leaflets. They are borne on long petioles. The flower has three to five yellow petals a few millimeters long and reflexed sepals. The fruit is an achene borne in a cluster of several.
It grows in wet and moist habitat, including ponds and streambanks. Spotted at the wet banks of a small brook.
Traditionally it has been thought that if its juice is applied in the face then the face muscle will contract producing a gesture similar to a smile, a "sardonic grin", that's why in Spanish it is called "Sardonia" or "apio sardónico", Sardonic celery. These plants contain "anemonine", a very toxic substance although they are used in traditional medicine. Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/250 sec. f/32; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: -1 EV. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired
Spotted on Apr 25, 2013
Submitted on May 29, 2013
2 Comments
Thanks Cindy
Lovely