Ranunculus sceleratus

Common name : Celery-leaved Crowfoot

It is a perennial herb growing up to 0.6m. It is a native plant in Hong Kong. It is monoecious plant with zygomorphic flowers. Each flower contains 5 yellow-colored petals and numerous carpels. Stamen number ranged from 10-19. It forms aggregated fruits of 8-12mm long and each fruit is an achene.

The whole plant are poisonous when fresh as it contains toxic constituents protoanemonin and ranunculin. The toxins can be destroyed by heat of by dehydration. Skin contact with this plant can cause blistering. For clinical treatment, affected area should be irrigated with water. Ingestion of this plant can cause sickness like diarrhoea and dizziness. For patients showing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, correction of fluid and electrolyte disturbances are needed.

One of the dispersal strategies of this plant is animal dispersal. This plant is poisonous to human by skin contact or ingestion. How can animals deal with the toxic constituents in this plant?

References : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/subpages.aspx?id=6800
https://www3.ha.org.hk/toxicplant/en/ranunculus_sceleratus.html
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200008144