Ranunculus omiophyllus - Round-leaved Ranunculus

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Ranunculales - Family: Ranunculaceae

Description

Ranunculus omiophyllus is a perennial plant with 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 reflexed sepals, and there are between eight and ten stamens. The stalked leaves are very variable in size but typically 10 to 30mm across; they are roundish and usually trilobed (exceptionally four or five lobed), often with two or three shallow crenations on each lobe. A useful distinguishing feature separating this species from Ivy-leaved Ranunculus R. hederaceus is the absence of dark blotches on its leaves.

Distribution

In Britain this water-plant is found mainly in the west of England and Wales, but its range does also entend into south-western parts of Scotland. In Ireland BSBI records show Round-leaved Ranunculus as being concentrated in the south. On the European mainland this plant is known to occur in The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy (including Sicily). It also occurs in parts of northern Africa.

Habitat

Round-leaved Ranunculus favours acidic soils and is found mainly in shallow streams and ditches, and sometimes in shallow ponds and puddles.

Flowering Times

This creeping plant blooms from April to September. The photographs on this page were taken during July.

There are several similar species, including ivy-leaved crowfoot, all of which have a preference for still or slow-flowing shallow water.

The plants shown on this page was growing in the margin of a scrape at RSPB Conwy, in North Wales, and in a muddy shallow puddle beside a farm track on the upper reaches of the River Teifi in West Wales. One of the features of (reasons for) the River Teifi's designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest is its diversity and abundance of Ranunculus species.

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