Crowfoot family, Ranunculaceae

About 100 of the 2 500 species of the crowfoot family (here Ranunculus acris) are living in the temperate zones. Apart from few woody species (e.g. Clematis), most of them are herbaceous, perennial plants.

Many of the plants are flowering early in spring (marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), windflower (Anemone), pasque flower (Pulsatilla)) and are cultivated as ornamental plants (Delphinium), colombine (Aquilegia), monkshood (Aconitum)). Because of their toxic ingredients, many plants have been used as medicinal plants.