Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: In sluggish streams, ponds, lakes, and mudflats at low to moderate elevations.
Flowers: May-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bees, flies, butterflies, beetles
Pubescent, aquatic perennial, the stem flaccid, rooting at the nodes, 1-2 mm. thick and up to 1 m. long.
Leaves alternate, the submerged ones 3-7 times trichotomously or dichotomously dissected into filiform segments; floating leaves similar, or simple, 5-15 mm. long and twice as broad, 3-lobed and toothed.
Pedicels stout, 2-6 cm. long, recurved in fruit; sepals 5, membranous, 2-5 mm. long; petals 5, white, 5-10 mm. long; nectary scale very small, forming a minute pocket; receptacle globose, hairy; stamens 10-15; pistils 12-15.
Achenes 1.5-2 mm. long, thin-margined, compressed; stylar beak 0.6 mm. long, deciduous.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 556. 1753.
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var. aquatilis – white water buttercup
Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Wyoming, and Utah. -
var. diffusus – water buttercup Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ranunculus aquatilis in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Ranunculus aquatilis checklist entry
OregonFlora: Ranunculus aquatilis information
E-Flora BC: Ranunculus aquatilis atlas page
CalPhotos: Ranunculus aquatilis photos
