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Yellow water crowfoot is a native aquatic herb found in quiet water in swamp forests, woodland pools, shallow or deep marshes with water depths to 2 m.
It blooms from May to June. Like most buttercups,
the flowers have 5 petals with a shiny surface and many stamens. The flowers are 2-3 cm across on long thick stalks. The seeds, achenes about 2 mm, have a conspicuous corky keel.
Leaves are alternate
and highly variable. Submersed leaves are finely dissected with flattened segments 1-2 mm wide (upper left corner of bottom photo); plants stranded on damp shores have leaves less finely dissected; emerged
leaves, when present, are 3-lobed.
The leaf segments of Yellow water crowfoot are flat in section, while those of the similar White water crowfoot (R. longirostris) are round.
This distinguishes sterile specimens.
Origin of the Name: Ranunculus, L. diminutive of rana, little frog, refers to the amphibious habitat; flabellaris: L. flabellum, a fan, refers to the fan-shaped leaves.
Range: ME to B.C., south to LA
WI Range: Statewide except the Driftless Area
Common associates: Arrowhead, bluejoint grass, bladderwort, floating-leaved pondweed
Wetland Indicator Status: OBL
Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 7 (S&W), C = 10 (MI) |
