Water-crowfoot, Pond

Information on Pond Water-crowfoot

Common Name: Pond Water-crowfoot
Scientific Name: Ranunculus peltatus
Irish Name: Néal uisce scéithe
Family Group: Ranunculaceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month

This is an annual or perennial plant found in ponds, lakes and rivers.  It has white, 5-petalled flowers (15-30mm across) with a golden circle at the centre of the flower surrounding the matching stamens. It blooms in May and June on stalks which are longer than the leaf-stalks. It has two forms of leaves; those floating on the surface are rounded and lobed, those submerged are short and thread-like. This is a native plant belonging to the family Ranunculaceae.

I found this plant growing at the margins of the River Slaney at Scarawalsh, Co Wexford in 2008 and photographed it from the bank.  

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

Water Crowfoot is a genus of 15 or so white-flowered aquatic plants which can be found in Ireland, some of which are very difficult to name, especially given the difficulties of getting into the water beside them. I don't feel very confident of this identification and therefore will not be offended in the slightest if some expert in this field (or river in this instance) could confirm or otherwise. 

Water-crowfoot, Pond
Water-crowfoot, Pond
Water-crowfoot, Pond
Water-crowfoot, Pond