Spring!

Lesser celandine under the sun of the new spring

Ficaria verna, (formerly Ranunculus ficaria) commonly known as lesser celandine is an exemple of nyctinastyn, the circadian rhythmic movement in response to the onset of darkness.

The emergence of Ficaria verna flowers across a landscape is also seen by many as one of the first signs of spring.

The plant is known as pilewort by some herbalists and young leaves, which are high in vitamin C, have been used to prevent scurvy. But the plant is poisonous if ingested raw and potentially fatal to grazing animals and livestock such as horses, cattle, and sheep.