About Ranunculus fluitans Lam.
Ranunculus fluitans Lam. does not produce floating leaves. Instead, it has long, narrow, tassel-like leaf segments that can grow up to 30 cm (12 inches) long. Its long, slender stems can bear up to two flowering stems. The plant's white flowers are held above the water surface, and measure roughly 2–3 cm across. The flowers are daisy-like, with 6–8 overlapping petals surrounding a central yellow area. It blooms in June; after blooming, it forms rounded seed heads that develop into hairless fruits. This species is similar in overall form to Ranunculus trichophyllus, the thread-leaved water-crowfoot. The main differences between the two are that R. trichophyllus has only 5 petals, shorter leaves, and prefers slower flowing water, while R. fluitans is associated with faster flowing water. This plant is endemic to western Europe. Its confirmed range includes North Macedonia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, southern Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain and Italy. In the United Kingdom, it grows in fast flowing waters across England, Scotland and Wales. The Ranunculus fluitans plant community, also called Ranunculion fluitantis, is a British plant community made up of submerged vegetation stands dominated by clumps of crowfoot. This species is considered vulnerable in Sweden and near threatened in Switzerland, but it is widespread and abundant across the rest of its range.
