Lesser Celandine ( Ficaria verna )

Sometimes mistaken by some people for a Buttercup, well it is a member of the ranunculaceae (Buttercup family).  For me they are one of the early confirmations that Spring has really got under way.

The plant is poisonous and can be fatal to livestock.  The plant likes damp ground and is difficult to eradicate.  The small tubers are probably what makes it difficult to get rid of.   In USA it is classed as a noxious weed and is an introduction.  They are native to Europe and North Africa.