Water-crowfoot, Common

Information on Common Water-crowfoot

Common Name: Common Water-crowfoot
Scientific Name: Ranunculus aquatilis
Irish Name: NĂ©al uisce coiteann
Family Group: Ranunculaceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month

One of several native Water-crowfoots, Common Water-crowfoot grows in still and slow-flowing water, in shallow ponds and small lakes. It bears 5-petalled white flowers (10-18mm across) on upright stems from April to August, the petals becoming golden yellow towards the centre of the flower. The nectaries are circular. There are deeply-lobed floating leaves and thread-like leaves which are submerged. It is a perennial, native plant which is uncommon and scattered mainly in the N East, East and S East of Ireland. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Buttercup family. 

I first saw and photographed this plant in Coolcots, Co Wexford in May 2013, when visiting our friends, Mick O'Connor, Mary Foley and Brian O'Connor. 

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre

Water-crowfoot, Common
Water-crowfoot, Common