Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix

Spice In the field

Family: RANUNCULACEAE

Genus: Ranunculus

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hydrophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Ponds.

Characteristics: This Ranunculus lives completely submerged, only the flowers come out of the water, so that they can be pollinated by insects. The flowers are white with a yellow marking at the base, smaller than other other species of aquatic Ranunculus. When it bears fruit the leaf-stalks hang downwards and introduced the fruits into the water. The leaves are completely divided, looking like wires. This kind of leaf is typical of aquatic plants and allows them to increase the surface for gas exchange, since inside the water the concentration of gases (CO2 and O2) is much lower than in the air. It can be distinguished from Ranunculus peltatus or Ranunculus aquatilis because these have flat leaves which float on the surface of the water. Flowers in spring.