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 Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus spp.)
Description: An aquatic member of the buttercup family with long trailing green foliage and little white flowers.
It provides cover, food and habitat for fish and invertebrates and is an important structural feature of river channels. They may modify water flow and promote fine sediment deposition.
Some species of Water Crowfoot are locally rare, and all species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Location: In the River Eden they are found at the most northern edges of their ranges. They are normally found in the chalk streams of the South of England.
Stream Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus penicillatus)
A subaquatic perennial plant, native to fast flowing rivers and streams. Flowers are white (or very pale pink), and larger than all other water-crowfoots. Leaves are either finely dissected if submerged, or rounded and lobed.
River Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans)
An internationally important species it needs a stony substrate with shallow, swift-flowing, oxygen-rich water, clean and free of pollutants. It is very common in the River Eden and its tributaries; the River Eamont, River Petteril and the River Lowther. It is similar to the Stream Water Crowfoot with white flowers but has longer submerged leaves and no floating leaves.
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water crowfoot - wildlife 