Lesser Spearwort

Description

Lesser spearwort, also known as greater creeping spearwort or banewort, is a British native plant scientifically classified as Ranunculus flammula within the Ranunculaceae family. Thriving in marshy ground such as peat bogs, wet shallow water ditches, and the margins of ponds, lakes, and rivers, this marginal plant grows to a height of 10-50 cm with creeping stems that root at the nodes and narrow, lance-shaped leaves.

Blooming from May to June, it produces small, yellow flowers about 1-1.5 cm in diameter, which are primarily pollinated by insects like bees and flies. Lesser spearwort can reproduce both by seed and vegetatively through its stems. Widespread throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, it plays a crucial role in wetland ecosystems by providing habitat and food for various insects and small animals.

Although the plant contains toxins that irritate the skin and mucous membranes to deter predators, it has been used cautiously in traditional medicine for its purported anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Generally not considered endangered, lesser spearwort remains common in its preferred habitats, although its historical use in folk remedies has declined due to its toxic nature.