Nomenclature

Species name:

Ranunculus saniculifolius   Viv.

Author(s):

Domenico Viviani
   Italy, 1772-1840

Common name:

Sanicle-leaved Water Crowfoot

Maltese name:

Cfolloq ta' l-ilma

Plant Family:

Ranunculaceae   (Buttercup Family)

Name Derivation:

Ranunculus = from rana, "little frog" because many species tend to grow in moist / marshy places (Latin);

saniculifolius = Leaves resembling those of a more popular Genus of plants named Sanicula which were known to have healing powers due their medicinal properties (Latin).

Synonyms:

Ranunculus peltatus subsp. fucoides

Remarks:

In many Maltese publications, the taxon is given as Ranunculus saniculaefolius and strictly speaking it should be corrected to R. saniculifolius (Ref. Flora Europea / Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)

Plant Description

Life Cycle:

Annual

Habitat:

Rock pools

Sources in Malta:

Uncommon but can be locally frequent such as at Wied anglu, Dingli cliffs, Mistra/Selmun garigue amongst others garigue pools. Also reported from rockpools in Ghallis and Wied il-Ghasel (Mosta).

Plant Height:

4-10cm

Flowering Time:

Jan-May

This aquatic buttercup starts its annual life cycle after some heavy rainfall in September October which fills garigue rock pools with water. The plant starts forming green thread-like vegetative growth in the water. At a later stage, laminate leaves are formed and usually are found floating flat upon the water surface. The leaves are somehow fan-shaped or semi-circular and as if made of 3 parts that are joined together. The outer margin has obtuse circular shallow lobes.

From about January/February the plant forms erect aerial flowering stalks (pedicels) that each holds a solitary flower. The flower is composed of an indeteriminate number of petals (usually 5) which are referred to as "honey leaves". These are free but overlap slightly as in many other buttercups. The inner part of the flower petals have a bright shiny yellow colour which changes sharply to pure white about one third from their base.

The reproductive parts are located at the centre of the flower which consists of an sub-spherical pale green receptacle with many projecting achenes (at least 2mm long) and numerous stamens growing an encircling the receptacle base. The stamens are bright yellow, ascending or erect, 5mm long and have swollen anthers.

The fertilized achenes form a single seed. At the fruiting stage, the pedicel grows more than 50mm which is said to be an identification feature to distinguish from Ranunculus aquatilis since it forms pedicels shorter from 50mm and smaller flowers amongst other differences. The seed falls at the bottom of the drying or dried rock pool and survives the hot arid Summer.

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