Ficaria verna L.

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Ficaria verna L.
Photo Information
Copyright: Ena Simic (Ena) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 360 W: 60 N: 569] (2319)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-16
Categories: Flowers
Exposure: f/4, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-20 17:28
Viewed: 542
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lesser celandine, (Ranunculus ficaria, syn. Ficaria grandiflora Robert Ficaria verna Huds.) is a low-growing, hairless perennial plant, with fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves.

According to Gilbert White, a diarist writing around 1800 in the Hampshire village of Selborne, the plants came out on February 21st, but it is more commonly reported to flower from March until May, and is sometimes called the "spring messenger" as a consequence. The flowers are yellow, turning white as they age. Ranunculus ficaria exists in both diploid (2n=16) and tetraploid (2n=32) forms which are very similar in appearance. However, the tetraploid type prefer more shady locations and frequently develops bulbils at the base of the stalk. These two variants are sometimes referred to as distinct sub-species,R. ficaria ficaria and R. ficaria bulbifer respectively. The plant is found throughout Europe and west Asia and is now introduced in North America. It prefers bare, damp ground and in the UK it is often a persistent garden weed.

The plant used to be known as Pilewort, as it was used to treat haemorrhoids. Supposedly the knobbly tubers of the plant resemble piles, and according to the Doctrine of signatures this resemblance suggests that pilewort could be used to cure piles. The German vernacular Scharbockskraut (Scurvywort) derives from the use of the early leaves, which are high in vitamin C, against scurvy.

The poet William Wordsworth was very fond of the flower and it inspired him to write three poems including the following from his ode to the celandine:

I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
T'was a face I did not know.
Upon Wordsworth's death it was proposed that a celandine be carved on his memorial plaque inside the church of Saint Oswald at Grasmere, but unfortunately the Greater celandine Chelidonium majus was mistakenly used.

C. S. Lewis mentions celandines in a key passage of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, when Aslan comes to Narnia and the whole wood passes "in a few hours or so from January to May". The kids notice "wonderful things happening. Coming suddenly round a corner into a glade of silver birch trees Edmund saw the ground covered in all directions with little yellow flowers - celandines"[1].

In latin 'celandine' can be translated as swallow, or when the swallows come home. The flower is present when the swallows return in the spring.

In many parts of the northern United States and Canada, lesser celandine is cited as an invasive species.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species: R. ficaria

Source: Wikipedia
zulfu, ramthakur, crs, Gert-Paassen, Miss_Piggy, boreocypriensis, cicindela, jpdenk, nkasot, Argus, bahadir, rousettus, uleko, dejo has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To lousat: GrazieEna 1 03-21 01:50
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Ena,questo ranuncolo e' diffusissimo,ne vedo da tutta Europa! Tutti ben fotografati come il tuo,il giallo molto forte di questo fiore e' sempre difficile da gestire bene come hai fatto tu,complimenti e grazie per le info,buona giornata e se non ci sentiamo piu' Buona Pasqua,Luciano

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-03-20 17:56]

Hello Ena,
An excellent close-up shot of this beautiful Ficaria with excellent DOF, lighting and details. TFS and regards,
Mehmet

Amazing shot Ena, but i would like to see the species with the leaves proper (but the flower is too high to get the DOF). I like this flower as it is some spring bringer in meadows here.

excellent close up, great DoF and a good focus on the flower centre. nice and sharp TFS

nice closeup! TFS Ori

It feels so wonderful to realize that your part of the world which was in the throes of a devastating war a few years ago is now peaceful and prosperous.
This beautiful flower somehow symbolizes for me the beauty of peace, harmony and goodwill.
You have captured it well. It is so delicate and pretty.
Thanks for sharing it and also for the very interesting note. Being a student and teacher of English literature, I admire Wordsworth.
Ram

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 159] (667)
  • [2008-03-20 22:36]

Hi Ena,

I like your photo! There are good details of the yellow petals as well as of the yellow stamins. Texture of petals can also be very well seen.
Color combination of yellow amd green looks nice and colors are natural.
Your photo realy suggest a sunny spring day.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

Hello Ena,

These flower "Speenkruid" called in the Netherlands.
Beatiful natural colors with enough sharpness.
Good close up.

Regards Gert

Hallo Ena
A beautiful golden yellow flower portrait. A very delightful view with fine details to appreciate. Yellow is definitely a very attractive and sunny colour and just looking at this image brightens ones day. I like the simple composition with the greenery you used in the background. A lovely close-up which I enjoyed looking at. Thanks for sharing and have a most enjoyable day.
Anna

Hello Ena,
Splendid close-up capture! Great composition with good DOF. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Ena!
Another very spring picture from you, really nice to watch for me in these winter and snowny days in Lodz :)
Very optimistic and "sunny" colouration (and flower's shape ;>).
I like it a lot! :)
All the best and have a nice weekend!
Radomir

Ciao Ena splendido ranuncolo di una magnifica tonalità di giallo, molto nitido e ben ripreso, brva, ciao Silvio

Hi Ena,

A very pleasing composition, beautiful little plant and an excellent note. Interestingly, this plant has been introduced to the USA, but I only know of one spot where it grows near my home, and it grows in mass profusion there, actually being invasive and choking out the native wildflowers.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2008-03-21 9:37]

Hi Ena.
You have created and very nice picture of the fine flower and impressive scenery. I welcome excellent DOF which allowed you to fill up all flower in a focus and reach nice light blurriness of the leaves. Colours and lights are amazing too. Well done and best wishes.
Alexei.

Hello Ena,
Splendid shot of this beautiful celandine with excelent details, DOV, POV and sharpness. Nice composition. TFS. Have a nice weekend!
Regards,
Nazım

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 132 N: 6649] (20861)
  • [2008-03-22 4:34]

Hello Ena,
Very nice capture of a Lesser Celandine flower, contrasting well against its own OOF leaves in the BG with pretty good sharpness and set in a fine composition.
Thanks for sharing this beauty and have a nice Easter,
Ivan

Bonjour,
Voilà encore un indice du printemps; chez moi, tout a été recouvert par la neige.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hello Ena,
Wonderful shot of this beutiful flower with wonderful details and splendid sharpness, very well done, Happy Easter!
Regards,

Bahadır

Hello Ena,
This is a beautiful and optimistic colour palette!
The green and yellow are both the colours of spring, and you capture the details in this delicate flower so well...
A simple but attractive composition, a happy image!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-03-24 12:01]

Hi Ena,
Beautiful yellow flower and you have portrayed it with all its glory. Fabulous yellow colour and sharp details and the green leaves compliments it well. Superb lighting and exposure levels and I like your top POV. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello Ena
a great macro of this yellow Ranunculus species. It is very beautiful as like its photograph. Nicely composed and focused. POV and colors great. Yellow and green nice for composition. Good notes. TFS, well done
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2295 W: 163 N: 6692] (21138)
  • [2008-03-26 5:29]

Hello Ena,
Lovely capture of the bright Celandine that I hope will soon be out here too. Impressive sharpness and lovely colours. A beautiful composition too.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hello Ena,

Beautiful composition. Great POV, DOF and sharpness. Very good light and natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 54 N: 476] (2048)
  • [2008-03-29 11:07]

fino, fino... :)
izgleda kao zuta zvijezda!
boja je odlicna!
Ciao

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