Belongs to: buttercup family
Compare with: creeping buttercup
Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria
Also known as: pilewort, fig buttercup
Best time to see: Mar to mid May
Key facts
One of the earliest woodland flowers to appear in spring, carpeting large areas with its rich yellow flowers
Once the plant was used to treat haemorrhoids, hence its popular name of pilewort
Grows from nobbly tubers which wild boar love and dig up enthusiastically
Extras
Plant is a low mat of flowers and leaves up to 20cm tall, but usually much less
Flowers are shiny yellow, starry; 1–2cm across; easy to spot!
Leaves are shiny green, heart-shaped
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© Tony Gunton