PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Small Yellow Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus gmelinii)

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Photo by Thomas Meyer

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Small Yellow Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus gmelinii), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in cold brooks and springs and in the shallow water and muddy shores of ditches, streams, and lakes. Blooming occurs late-June through late-August, fruiting early-July through early-September. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through early-September.

Ranunculus gmelinii ssp. purshii, Ranunculus gmelinii var. gmelinii, Ranunculus gmelinii var. hookeri, Ranunculus gmelinii var. limosus, Ranunculus gmelinii var. prolificus, Ranunculus gmelinii var. purshii, Ranunculus purshii

 
 
 

Small yellow water crowfoot is an aquatic emergent forb that is 15-45cm tall. Its yellow or white petals are mostly 4-8mm, are sepals 4-6mm. Achenes nearly or quite smooth on the sides, the margins rounded but not swollen or conspicuously corky, the beak is 0.4-0.7mm. The segments of the submersed leaves are mostly 2-4mm wide, emersed leaves are pentagonal, the principal segments are lobed and crenately toothed.

Blooming occurs late-June through late-August, fruiting occurs early-July through early-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through early-September.

Associated species include Petasites sagittatus, Alnus rugosa, Larix laricina, Carex lacustris, C utriculata, Sparganium glomeratum, and Thuja occidentalis.

Small yellow water crowfoot is found in cold brooks and springs and in the shallow water and muddy shores of ditches, streams, and lakes.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

This species is likely sensitive to water quality. Following BMPs around streams and buffering associated drainages will reduce eutrophication and prevent water quality degradation.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.