Family: Ranunculaceae
creeping buttercup
[Ranunculus repens var. erectus L., more...]
Merel R. Black
Elizabeth Parnis
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Ranunculus: from Latin rana, "little frog," because many species tend to grow in moist places
Plants: drooping to creeping perennial, 5"-10" tall forb; stems arching back to the ground and occasionally rooting at the node
Leaves: basal and stem leaves much the same shape with basal the largest; mostly 3-parted into deep lobes which are then cut or toothed
Flowers: yellow, 5-8-parted, 1" wide, normally 5 sepals reflexed just above the base, petal widest above the middle and the same to 2 times as long as the sepal; solitary, stalked flowers; blooms May-June
Fruits: dry seed with almost winged margin, lance-shaped mostly straight beak
Habitat: wet; lowlands forests, meadows
Plants: drooping to creeping perennial, 5"-10" tall forb; stems arching back to the ground and occasionally rooting at the node
Leaves: basal and stem leaves much the same shape with basal the largest; mostly 3-parted into deep lobes which are then cut or toothed
Flowers: yellow, 5-8-parted, 1" wide, normally 5 sepals reflexed just above the base, petal widest above the middle and the same to 2 times as long as the sepal; solitary, stalked flowers; blooms May-June
Fruits: dry seed with almost winged margin, lance-shaped mostly straight beak
Habitat: wet; lowlands forests, meadows
An uncommon weed of lawns, landscaped areas, pastures, dumps, roadsides, railroads, ditches, riverbanks, logging roads, swamps and wet woods. Introduced from Europe and first collected in 1916. Uncommon and scattered across the state but increasing in urban areas such as Madison and Milwaukee.
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 0, Wetland Indicator = FACW+ USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key
Elizabeth Parnis
Kurt Stüber
Elizabeth Parnis
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Christopher Noll
Merel R. Black