# Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot (*Ranunculus trichophyllus*) The Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot is a pretty plant that grows in water. It has thin, thread-like leaves and small white flowers that float on the surface, making ponds look beautiful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/RanunculusTrichophyllus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RanunculusTrichophyllus.jpg) ## Appearance The Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot has delicate, thread-like leaves completely submerged underwater, often forming dense green masses. Small, bright white flowers, each with a yellow center, emerge just above the water surface on slender stems, contrasting with its submerged foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Ranunculus ## Interesting facts - Despite its delicate look, it can form dense underwater meadows, providing shelter for many tiny creatures. - If the water dries up, it can still survive for a while by rooting in the damp mud, waiting for rain! - It belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, famous for its bright, often yellow, relatives! - Tiny seeds of the Water-crowfoot can hitchhike on birds' feet or fur to spread to brand new ponds! ## Special abilities - **Aquatic Architect:** Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot can grow delicate, thread-like leaves underwater, allowing it to sway with currents without damage. - **Shape-Shifter:** This plant can produce two types of leaves—feathery underwater and broad floating ones—adapting to water depth and flow. - **Oxygen Factory:** Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot produces oxygen during photosynthesis, enriching the water and benefiting aquatic animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** Mallard duck (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Dabbling ducks feed on plant parts. - **Shelter:** Three-spined stickleback (*Gasterosteus aculeatus*) — Provides cover for small fish. - **Eats:** Freshwater shrimp (*Gammarus pulex*) — Grazes on plant detritus. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay close to an adult when exploring ponds and lakes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot? 10-100 cm ### How wide does Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot spread? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot bloom? Spring_summer ### Is Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot edible? No ### Is Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot toxic? Mild ### What is Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thread-leaved-water-crowfoot)