Ranunculus fluitans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ranunculus fluitans |
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Ranunculus
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fluitans
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The river water-crowfoot, also known as Ranunculus fluitans, is a type of buttercup plant. It is a water plant that lives for many years. When it grows in good conditions, like fast-flowing water, it can reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) tall!
Contents
What is the River Water-Crowfoot?
The river water-crowfoot is special because it does not have leaves that float on the water. Instead, its leaves are long, narrow, and look like tassels. These leaves can grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long.
Flowers and Seeds
This plant has long, thin stems that can hold one or two flower stalks. Its white flowers bloom above the water. Each flower is about 2 to 3 centimeters wide and looks like a small daisy. They have 6 to 8 petals that overlap around a yellow center.
The river water-crowfoot usually blooms in June. After the flowers, the plant produces round seed heads. These seeds are smooth and do not have hairs.
How is it Different from Other Plants?
The river water-crowfoot looks a bit like another plant called the thread-leaved water-crowfoot (Ranunculus trichophyllus). However, there are some key differences. The thread-leaved water-crowfoot usually has only 5 petals on its flowers. Its leaves are also shorter. This is because the thread-leaved water-crowfoot prefers water that flows more slowly.
Where Does the River Water-Crowfoot Grow?
This plant is found only in western Europe. It grows naturally in many countries across the region.
Countries Where it Lives
You can find the river water-crowfoot in places like North Macedonia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It also grows in southern Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Italy.
In the United Kingdom, it likes to grow in the fast-flowing rivers of England, Scotland, and Wales.
How Does the River Water-Crowfoot Help Nature?
The river water-crowfoot often forms large groups in rivers. These groups are so important that scientists have named a special plant community after them, called the Ranunculion fluitantis. This community is made up of plants that grow underwater, with the river water-crowfoot being the main plant.
Is it in Danger?
Even though it's common in many places, the river water-crowfoot is considered a Vulnerable plant in Sweden. In Switzerland, it is listed as Near Threatened. This means it could become endangered if its environment changes. However, in most other areas, it is very common and healthy.
The River Water-Crowfoot in Culture
The river water-crowfoot has even appeared in poetry! William Barnes (1801–1886), an English writer and poet, wrote about this plant in his poem 'The Water Crowfoot'.
In his poem, he mentions the plant blooming in the River Frome. He used the plant to talk about how human actions can affect rivers.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the river water-crowfoot.
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River water-crowfoot plants growing in a river.
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An old drawing of the river water-crowfoot.
See also
In Spanish: Ranunculus fluitans para niños
