Ranunculus longirostris Godr.

Taxonomic Classification

Ranunculus longirostris, commonly called the longbeak buttercup, is an aquatic plant belonging to the buttercup family.

Native Range

This species is native to Canada and the United States, and it is widespread across most of this range. It is not present across most of the Southeastern United States.

Habitat

It grows in a wide variety of freshwater aquatic habitats, and is most often found in slow-moving streams.

Species Identification Challenge

Researchers have faced consistent difficulty distinguishing Ranunculus longirostris from its close relative Ranunculus trichophyllus. One contributing factor to this confusion is that critical identifying features of these plants often do not preserve well on herbarium specimens.