Native. Biennial. Propagates by seeds.

Time of bloom: Late April to August.

Seed-time: June to September.

Range: Labrador to Manitoba, southward to Florida and Texas.

Habitat: Moist soil; meadows, lawns, and cultivated ground, particularly strawberry fields.

This plant is readily identified by the great difference between its root leaves and stem-leaves; the basal leaves being thick of texture, bright green, rounded heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, with scalloped edges and long petioles; the stem-leaves, three- to five-parted, with wedge-shaped or linear segments, the lowermost with short petioles, those near the top sessile; all are smooth, as is also the stem, which is erect, slender, many-branched, six to eighteen inches tall. Flowers numerous but very small, the pale yellow petals being hardly noticeable and shorter than the reflexed sepals. The small seed-head is globose, the carpels minute, tipped with a mere bristly point. (Fig. 105.)

Means Of Control

Better drainage; for this Crowfoot is a plant that demands moisture. Early cutting with hoe or spud in order that no seed may be permitted to develop.

Fig. 105. - Small-flowered Crowfoot (Ranunculus abortivus). X 1/3.