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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Ranunculus flammula (Greater creeping spearwort)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Ranunculus flammula

Ranunculus flammula L.

Greater Creeping Spearwort

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: RAFL2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (NI)

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Stems erect to prostrate, up to about 18 inches long.
Leaf: Green.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , ID , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OR , PA , RI , UT , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Low toxicity if eaten. Minor skin irritation lasting minutes if touched. Symptoms include burning of the mouth, abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Skin redness, burning sensation, and blisters following contact with cell sap. Toxic Principle: Protoanemonin, released from the glycoside ranunculin.(Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FACW OBL FACW FACW FACW FACW FACW
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ranunculus flammula in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ranunculus flammula in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ranunculus flammula

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-04
Research By: TWC Staff

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