Water Buttercup

Water buttercup is an annual or perennial species that grows up to about 1 m tall and has branching stems. Floating leaves are sometimes present, but more frequently, the plant only has submersed leaves. The floating leaves are entire, kidney-shaped or orbicular and usually have 3 to 5 lobes. Submersed leaves are 2 to 3 cm long, ternately or binately dissected into flaccid or stiff filiform segments. The stipule is adnate and encircles the base of each petiole. Flowers are borne on stalks from the leaf axils and have 5 white petals that sometimes have a yellow base. After flowering, the stalks usually recurve into the water and produce a head-like cluster of beaked fruits that are 1 to 2 mm long.