Plant Searcher: Ranunculus sceleratus（石龍芮 ● Celery-leaved crowfoot）

Among many wetland plants, Ranunculus sceleratus is a rather uncommon one. It is a beautiful annual herb that grows in spring. The species is suited to grow in relatively colder days.

In suitable habitats such as wet farmlands in Yuen Long, I've seen the plant growing to almost half a meter tall. I found a population of the species very close to my home and used a great deal of time to observe it. Unfortunately, that population grows in relatively dry urban environment and is often removed by gardeners, so the plants growing there are relatively short, most of the plants found there mature and start to flower when they are just a few cm tall.

The plant has two kinds of leafs. The leaves in the lower portion of the plant is 3-partile and relatively broad. For cauline leaves, the higher the position of the leaf, the less divided it is. This adaptation is used when the plant grows in shallow water. The basal leaves floats while the cauline ones does not touch the water. Yellowish flowers could be found in the upper portion of the plant. The receptacles in the flower gets longer and longer as the flowers develop. At last, petals fall and the receptacles develop into an aggregate fruit. I'm quite curious of the dispersion method the fruits use. Since the plant could be dispersed to places far from water, it is unlikely that the plant uses water or aquatic animals to disperse its seeds. The shape of the fruit suggests that it does not rely on wind dispersal (anemochory). I suspect that the plant relies on birds to disperse its seeds but the color doesn't seem to be attractive or attention grabbing at all so it is kind of strange.

The following pictures are taken in the population found in the urban area in spring, probably originally entered the system through the soil.