Seasonal Wild Flowers

Greater Spearwort

Ranunculus lingua

Ranunculaceae

June to August

It is scattered throughout the country, except for parts

of the Northwest and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Greater Spearwort

It grows by slow flowing fresh water, such as canals, fens,

marshes, ponds and reservoirs.

Greater Spearwort is a mixture of native and planted

escapes.

It is a perennial, stoloniferous herb, growing up to

120cm.

The flowers are bright yellow, up to 5cm, with prominent,

green, bulbous fruit heads.

Flower stems are unfurrowed.

Fruits have curved beaks and are in globular heads.

Leaves are linear.

It spreads by long, rooting runners (stolons).

Greater Spearwort, Lancaster canal

Flowers with stamens and nascent fruits

Young flower - styles and stamens

Fruit head - unfurrowed stalk

Leaves

Greater Spearwort and Meadowsweet