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Old 29-03-2014, 12:25 AM posted to alt.binaries.pictures.gardens
joevan[_3_] joevan[_3_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Mar 2009
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Default Weed of the Week: Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria) [1/1]

On Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:22:08 +0000, Mad Cow
wrote:

The golden flowers of Pilewort (aka Lesser Celandine) are a reliable
herald of the arrival of spring, but the bulbils on the roots make it
very hard to eradicate. Ground that has Pilewort should never be dug
over, as that spreads them. If you dig out a single plant take care to
get all the bulbils, and put them in the dustbin not in your compost.

It's called Pilewort because the bulbils look like piles; the ancients
assumed that meant it would cure them. In this case they were lucky: if
you grind the plant with lard and smear it on the affected area it's as
effective as any other astringent.
[ Section: 1/1 File: z_Pilewort_0996a.JPG UUencoded by: Turnpike Integrated Version 5.02 S ]


It is a pretty flower too.