Common water-crowfoot

There are nine varieties of water-crowfoot found in the British Isles, and they are easily confused with each other. Their common features are that they are “water buttercups” and that, in most cases, they have two sets of leaves, one of which grows above the surface and the other below.

Common water-crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) grows in ponds, streams and ditches throughout Great Britain, being absent only from highland areas. It has round leaves floating on the surface and feathery ones underneath. There may also be leaves that are transitional, in that they are sometimes above and sometimes below the surface.

The flowers, which are half an inch across, are white with a yellow centre. The globe-shaped fruiting bodies are carried on curving stalks that bend back towards the water. The flowers appear in May and June and often form impressive displays several feet across.

© John Welford