Ranunculus
Ranunculus inundatus
Also known as River buttercup, Umbrella grass, Inundated buttercup, River plate
Care at a glance
- Light
- High light
- CO2
- CO₂ beneficial
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Placement
- Foreground
- Type
- Rhizome
- Temperature
- 59–82°F (15–28°C)
- pH
- 5.0–8.0
- Hardness
- 2–14 dGH
- Max height
- 5.9 in (15 cm)
- Spread
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root feeder
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Origin
- Southeastern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia)
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Overview
A creeping rhizome plant that spreads by runners, so treat it as a foreground to midground carpet rather than a stem you top and replant. It usually sulks for a few weeks after planting before it settles, then throws out lateral runners; strong light keeps the umbrella leaves short and compact while low light stretches the stalks and it loses its scale. It appreciates a nutrient-rich substrate and benefits from CO2, and new daughter plants along the runners can be snipped off and replanted.
In the wild
An amphibious perennial buttercup from the coast and tablelands of southeastern Australia, ranging across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In the wild it creeps over wet mud and through the shallows of ponds, dams and slow rivers, spreading widely by rhizomes while sending up its distinctive umbrella-shaped leaves. It tolerates seasonal drying and can carpet boggy ground several metres across.
Good to know
A true buttercup in the family Ranunculaceae, and unusual among aquarium plants for that reason. Rather than a stem it grows from a creeping rhizome that runs along or just below the substrate, throwing up rooted leaf stalks at each node. The deeply divided three-lobed leaves on long petioles give it the umbrella-grass look and separate it from the round-leaved Hydrocotyle it is often compared to.
Did you know
It is a genuine buttercup, one of very few Ranunculus grown underwater, so this delicate umbrella-leaved carpet plant is a close relative of the yellow meadow buttercups found in fields across the world.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Glass Aqua Aquascaping plants and planted tank supplies
- Buce Plant Aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Growing Ranunculus?
Track your planted tank, set reminders and plan your layout.
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