Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Ranunculus flammula

Ranunculus flammula, the lesser spearwort, greater creeping spearwort or banewort, is a species of perennial herbaceous plants in the genus Ranunculus (buttercup), growing in damp places throughout the Boreal Kingdom. It flowers June/July. Ranunculus flammula is poisonous. It is very closely related to R. reptans, which is distinguished by prostrate and more slender stems, narrower leaves and smaller flowers and is sometimes included within R. flammula sensu lato as a variety.

Last revised
Jun 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
237 w
Citations
4
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Lesser spearwort
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Ranunculus
Species:
R. flammula
Binomial name
Ranunculus flammula

Ranunculus flammula, the lesser spearwort,2 greater creeping spearwort3 or banewort, is a species of perennial herbaceous plants in the genus Ranunculus (buttercup), growing in damp places throughout the Boreal Kingdom. It flowers June/July. Ranunculus flammula is poisonous. It is very closely related to R. reptans, which is distinguished by prostrate and more slender stems, narrower leaves and smaller flowers and is sometimes included within R. flammula sensu lato as a variety (R. flammula var. reptans (L.) E. Meyer).

In addition to other forms of pollination, this plant is adapted to rain-pollination.4

Illustrations

  • Ranunculus flammula Illustration in: Jakob Sturm: "Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen", Stuttgart (1796)
    Ranunculus flammula
    Illustration in:
    Jakob Sturm: "Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen",
    Stuttgart (1796)
  • Ranunculus flammula var reptans Illustration in: Jakob Sturm: "Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen", Stuttgart (1796)
    Ranunculus flammula var reptans
    Illustration in:
    Jakob Sturm: "Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen",
    Stuttgart (1796)
  • Žgoča zlatica. (Ranúnculus Flámmula.) Illustration #29 in: Martin Cilenšek: Naše škodljive rastline, Celovec (1892)
    Žgoča zlatica. (Ranúnculus Flámmula.)
    Illustration #29 in: Martin Cilenšek: Naše škodljive rastline, Celovec (1892)
References

References

  1. Lansdown, R.V. (2014). "Ranunculus flammula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014 e.T164282A42405074. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  2. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. NRCS. "Ranunculus flammula". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. Hagerup, O. 1950. Rain-pollination. I kommission hos E. Munksgaard. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
External links