Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

Peta, Arta

Here are some more pictures of this lovely flower. For more information about lesser celandine please click here.

Peta, Arta

Peta, Arta

Anemone (Anemone pavonina)

Anemone pavonina (Ranunculacea family) or commonly known os anemone (ανεμώνη) is a species native to the Mediterranean region. It flowers from January to May and can be seen in red, purple and pink. It very similar to A. coronaria with the main difference being that the stalk leaves are more jagged than the A. coronaria ones.

 

Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

Vlacherna, Epirus

Vlacherna, Epirus

Ranunculus ficaria or commonly known as lesser celandine or fig buttercup (νεραγκούλα) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. The common name celandine has its root greek chelidonia meaning swallows. It is said that the flower starts blooming when swallows come and fades away when they returned. The family name Ranunculacea means little frog in latin and probably it is named so because many species can be found near water like frogs.
The leaves are dark green and lustrous and form a rosette. They are heart or kindey shaped and can have toothed edges. Each rosette gives a bright yellow flower. It prefers damp places. In Greece it can be seen blooming from the beginning of January.
Throughout the history it has been used to treat hemorrhoids and ulcers. Because of the high content the early leaves have in vitamin C it has been used to prevent scurvy.
Celandine has inspired many writers and poets to write about it. Amongst them are J.R. Tolkien who describes the spring in Ithilien in Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis mentions it in Narnia. Moreover it has William Wordsworth and Edward Thomas have dedicated poems to it.

Grecian windflower (Anemone blanda)

Chelmos Mt.

Enipeus valey (near Mt Olympus)

 Anemone blanda or grecian windflower (ανεμώνη ή ανεμώνη του βουνού) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. The name anemone could either mean the daughter of wind from greek anemos or according to another version it can also be a corrupted Greek word, of Semitic origin, referring to the lament for slain Adonis or Naaman, whose blood gave the red A. coronaria. Its colour can vary between deep blue-purple, pink or white and it usually appears in low clusters. They are widespread in the greek mountains flowering from early spring to early summer.

Chelidona Mt.

Buttercup (Ranunculus sartorianus)

Ranunculus sartorianus or buttercup (ρανούνκουλος) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and its name is derived from latin "rana" and means litle frog. It can be often spoted in the greek mountains and it is one of the few flowers with such an intent yellow colour. I saw those in Strongula Mt in Epirus.