Ranunculus aquatilis
Whitewater crowfoot
(c) Rose Zappa, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ranunculus aquatilis (Whitewater crowfoot) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by aquatic habitat.
Whitewater crowfoot is a California native perennial aquatic herb found in various wetland habitats, creeping through water or mud at low to moderate elevations. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white flowers with yellow claws, 4 to 7 millimeters long, arising from bristly receptacles. Growing with slender stems 20 to 80 centimeters long that root at the nodes, it forms delicate underwater or partially floating vegetation. Its submersed leaves are intricately dissected into 3 to 6 segments, with tapered stipules that unite along the stem. When mature, the plant develops multiple small, lenticular fruits with thick, transversely wrinkled walls and persistent thread-like beaks.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; aquatic habitat
Habitat and range
California counties: Shasta, Sonoma, Plumas, San Bernardino, Riverside, Mono, Madera, Modoc, Alpine, Tulare, Nevada, Lake, San Diego, Sierra, Mariposa, Lassen, Inyo, Tuolumne, Fresno, Marin, Merced, Alameda, Contra Costa, Siskiyou, Calaveras, San Benito, Mendocino, Yuba, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Monterey, Butte, Los Angeles, Tehama, Napa, Amador, El Dorado, Colusa, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
How to tell it apart
vs Lasthenia: Ranunculus has separate petals around a central disk; Lasthenia has many tiny ray flowers around a disk (composite head).; vs Bowlesia: Ranunculus has glossy yellow petals in conspicuous flowers; Bowlesia has tiny white flowers in umbels with divided leaves.; vs Potentilla: Ranunculus has nectaries at petal bases and many pistils; Potentilla has no nectaries and styles attached to ovary sides.; vs Papaver: Ranunculus has 5 petals and many pistils; Papaver has 4 crinkled petals and a single large stigma disk.; vs Oxalis: Ranunculus has glossy separate petals; Oxalis has clover-like leaves and tubular flowers that close at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ranunculus aquatilis native to California?
Yes. Ranunculus aquatilis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ranunculus aquatilis grow?
Ranunculus aquatilis occurs in Shasta, Sonoma, Plumas, San Bernardino, Riverside, Mono, Madera, Modoc and other counties.
What plant family does Ranunculus aquatilis belong to?
Ranunculus aquatilis is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Ranunculus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.