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November 7, 2008 : Ranunculus aquatilis
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Plant Family / Families: Ranunculaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Ranunculus aquatilis L.
Name Location: Sierra de Aracena, southwestern Spain
Ruth writes:
A family friend of mine, Sandi Hewlett, submitted this photo from a walking tour that she took in the Sierra de Aracena of southwestern Spain. Thanks so much Sandi!
Apparently, this graceful water weed, commonly known as the white water-crowfoot, is found all over North America. I've never seen it! Ranunculus aquatilus also grows in still water bodies of Europe, Africa and Asia (it was also previously featured on BPotD here: Ranunculus aquatilis).
If you look closely, you can see that there are two leaf forms present on this plant. The submersed leaves are feather-like with many leaflets (>20), whereas the leaves that float on the surface are broad and flat with a scalloped edge. Some sources hint that the surface leaves prop up the flowers, as they are produced at roughly the same time. The flowers appear around May, which is when this photo was taken.
Like similar flowering water plants (e.g., Nymphaceae), beetles are attracted to the flowers and may be an important pollinator. Other insect interactions include the flowers supplying shelter for water spiders and larvae of dragonflies & damselflies.
The fruit is a one-seeded indehiscent achene, a trait shared by many members of the Ranunculaceae. The achene is eaten by waterfowl.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at November 7, 2008 8:34 AM
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Comments
Posted by: Elizabeth at November 7, 2008 11:23 AM
It looks similar to the marsh marigold.
Posted by: Heidi at November 7, 2008 11:58 AM
Ranunculus aquatilis - Z5 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Ranunculus aquatilis - Z5-8 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
Ranunculus rah-nun-kew-lus The L. name from rana [a frog] as many grow in wet places. aquatilis a-kwah-ti-lis Growing in water. Dictionary of Plant Names, Coombes
Posted by: Beverley at November 7, 2008 3:05 PM
Heidi, that was exactly my reaction.
Posted by: Aida at November 8, 2008 9:48 AM
i was struck by this photo when i first saw it because i had just submitted a photo that is almost identical to the botany of the day group on flickr.
my photo was of R. longirostis. and it has distinctly different leaves. check out three photos of it at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbyadrienne/2631482246/in/set-72157606174459963/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbyadrienne/2713295213/in/set-72157606174459963/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbyadrienne/2631453318/in/set-72157606174459963/
as i was identifying the plant, i saw mentions of R. aquatilis. it's great be able to compare and contrast it with this photo. thanks for submitting it!
Posted by: Adrienne at November 12, 2008 5:40 PM
Hi Ruth, Magee has this recorded pretty much all over NH except Rockingham County. As Ranunculus tricophyllus. But I'm going to keep an eye out for it.
Posted by: Deborah Lievens at November 20, 2008 7:25 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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My goodness!
The beauty!!!
Thank you