Ranunculus peltatus

Aquatic perennial of the buttercup family, widespread in much of Western and Central Europe, from the British Isles to the Mediterranean basin. It colonizes shallow running waters, rivers, streams, and canals with moderate current, as well as some ponds and ditches, from the plain to the lower mountain levels.

Like other aquatic buttercups of the Batrachium group, it develops two types of leaves depending on the conditions. The submerged leaves are finely divided into capillary segments, flexible and floating with the current, forming dense and translucent masses under the surface. The floating leaves, when present, are peltate to lobed, rounded, and bright green.

The flowers emerge above the water, with five pure white petals with a well-marked yellow basal spot, borne on short peduncles. When conditions are favorable, the flowering is spectacularly abundant, literally covering the river's surface with a shimmering white carpet, a characteristic sight of some European waterways in spring.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July.

The taxonomy of the group of aquatic buttercups with capillary leaves remains complex and debated; the delimitation between R. peltatus and neighboring taxa such as R. penicillatus or R. fluitans is subject to varying interpretations according to different floras. This species is not cultivated in common gardens.