Trending: lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) — 812 observations this week
iNaturalist Community
Invasive Species
Lesser celandine is quietly taking over lawns, stream banks, and woodland gardens across the eastern US and parts of Europe, forming dense mats that crowd out native spring wildflowers before most gardeners even realize what's happening.
Lesser celandine is a low-growing plant with bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers that blooms early in spring, often before most other plants wake up. It looks charming at first, but it spreads aggressively underground and can smother entire patches of native wildflowers. This week, hundreds of plant watchers spotted and photographed it, helping scientists track exactly where it's spreading.
Key Findings
812 research-grade observations of lesser celandine were recorded on iNaturalist in a single week, marking it as one of the most-observed plant species during that period.
The observation spike aligns with the plant's early-spring bloom window, when it is most visible and most actively spreading before native vegetation emerges.
Citizen science data from iNaturalist is capturing real-time geographic spread of this invasive species, providing valuable distribution data across multiple countries and regions.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Lesser celandine, a small flowering plant native to Europe and western Asia, is surging in iNaturalist observations this spring with 812 research-grade sightings in a single week — signaling its peak bloom period and raising awareness of its invasive spread across North America.
Abstract Preview
lesser celandine is among the most observed plant species this week with 812 research-grade observations.
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Ficaria verna, commonly known as lesser celandine or pilewort, is a low-growing, hairless perennial flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It has fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive flowers with bright yellow, glossy petals. Native to Europe and Western Asia, it...