Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Ranunculaceae - Water Plantain Spearwort (Ranunculus ambigens)

Water Plantain Spearwort

(Ranunculus ambigens)

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

Ranunculus pusillus

Color Photograph: Midwestern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Midwest National Technical Center.

Water Plantain Spearwort (Ranunculus ambigens S. Wats.)

Identification: A semi-aquatic species. Flowers yellow, relatively small, with thin petals longer than the sepals. Leaves not divided, elongate, grass-like. Plant rooting from stem.

Distribution: Throughout most of eastern North America.

Habitat: Water Plantain Spearwort is found in swamps and marshes, or on mudflats along lakes, slow rivers, and ponds.

Flowering period: June to September.

Similar Species: Among the species treated here, Water Plantain Spearwort is the only species with undivided, grass-like leaves. Related species (such as Ranunculus pusillus shown below) exist.