Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Crow-foot

CROW-FOOT, or Ranunculus, L. a genus of plants consisting of 53 species; but only 15 are indigenous, of which the following are the principal:

1. The flammula: See Lesser Spearwort.

2. The lingua: See Great Spearwort.

3. The ficaria, or Lesser Celandine: See Pilewort.

4. The auricomus, or Sweet Wood Crow-foot, or Goldilocks, which grows in woods, groves and hedges; produces yellow flowers in April and May; and is so inoffensive that the whole plant may be eaten as spinach;—the blossoms are much frequented by bees.

5. The sceleratus, or round-leaved Water Crow-foot; thrives in shallow waters; and produces small yellow flowers from June to August. The whole plant is so very corrosive, that beggars are said to employ it for ulcerating their feet, which they expose in that state to excite compassion. Internally taken, this vegetable, especially the seed-bud, is extremely poisonous to man and cattle; hence it ought to be carefully extirpated from meadows. It is, however, eaten by goats; but refused by cows, horses, and sheep.

6. The bulbosus, or Bulbous Crow-foot, also called Butter-flower, Butter-cups, &c. It grows on meadows and pastures, produces yellow flowers in May, and turnip-shaped bulbous roots, which, like the blossoms and leaves, are so corrosive, that they speedily blister the skin: on this account they deserve, for many reasons, to be substituted for the Spanish fly.

7. The acris, or Upright Meadow Crow-foot; See Butter-cup.

8. The arvensis, or Corn Crow-foot, is an annual plant growing in corn-fields; and bearing small pale yellow flowers, which blow in the month of June, and are succeeded by flat prickly seeds. This noxious weed is particularly luxuriant on damp soils, and most severely exercises the patience of the farmer. The only effectual method of extirpating it is, to fallow the soil infested with it.—In Italy, cows, horses, and sheep, are said to eat it greedily, though it is so acrid as to poison the latter: 3 oz. of its juice killed a dog in four minutes. As it thrives chiefly in corn-fields, where cattle are excluded, its deleterious qualities are from this circumstance less known in this country. Bechstein informs us, that in Germany the milk of cows becomes tinged with blood, when feeding on the fresh leaves of this plant.