Species

Ranunculus limosella

Etymology

Ranunculus: From the Latin 'rana' frog, meaning little frog and probably refers to the plants typical marshy habit where frogs abound
limosella: growing in mud

Common Name(s)

Mud buttercup

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Declining
2004 - Gradual Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - DP
2009 - DP

Authority

Ranunculus limosella Kirk

Family

Ranunculaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

RANLIM

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Distribution

Endemic. North and South Islands from Lake Whangape south.

Habitat

Coastal to lowland. Usually found in raupo (Typha orientalis) dominated wetlands where it grows in still moderately deep to deep water.

Features

Small perennial herb. Leaves in rosettes, tufted along a slender, creeping, buried stem; linear to spoon-shaped, not toothed, hairless, with long stems, up to 14cm long when permanently submerged. FLowers yellow to purple, solitary, 6-8mm diameter, with 4 linear petals and 4 spreading sepals; on stalks 1-2cm tall.

Similar Taxa

Limosella lineata. Leaves of mud buttercup are linear to spoon-shaped, slightly curved, with a smaller leaf sheath that Limosella lineata, which has purely linear leaves. Other buttercups have toothed or lobed leaves. Mud buttercup has buried stems, while Limosella lineata stems creep along the surface.

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,Yellow

Propagation Technique

Easy to grow from fresh seed and rooted pieces. Best in a pond or kept in semi-submerged pots.

Threats

Habitat modification, eutrophication from uncontrolled nutrient run off, fertilisers, and drains are major porblems throughout its range. Invasive aquatic weeds are a problem in many areas.

Chromosome No.

2n = 48

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (30 August 2003).

This page last updated on 14 May 2014