Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Ranunculales - Family: Ranunculaceae
This water-plant is very localised and confined mainly to the south and west of England, Wales and Ireland.
Found mainly in shallow streams and ditches, and sometimes in shallow ponds and puddles, this creeping plant blooms from April to September and has flowers 8 to 12mm across - much smaller than those generally associated with river Ranunculus species. The white petals are more than twice the length of the greenish sepals.
There are several similar species, including ivy-leaved crowfoot, all of which have a preference for still or slow-flowing shallow water.
The plant shown on this page was growing in a shallow puddle beside a farm track on the upper reaches of the River Teifi in West Wales. One of the reasons for the River Teifi's designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest is its diversity and abundance of Ranunculus species.
The photograph was taken in July.
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