Stems decumbent, sometimes rooting at nodes. Flowers: sepals reflexed 1 mm above base. Achene margin 0.4-1.2 mm broad. 2 n = 32.

Flowering late winter-summer (Mar-Jul). Wet woods, swamps, ditches; 0-200 m; Ont; Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky, La., Md., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Wis.

In separating this species from this perplexing complex I have no guide except a meager amount of literature. Poiret in his original description says the plant is 8-10 inches high and that the petioles of the radical leaves are glabrous. I infer that the description was drawn from a glabrate form and a very young specimen since he adds that the base of the stem is villous or pubescent but does not mention that later radical leaves may be quite pubescent. He says that the calyx is glabrous, furnished with sparse hairs at the summit. Of the 34 specimens which I have from Indiana, all have the entire calyx appressed-pubescent except one specimen which is glabrous throughout except for a few hairs at the summit of the peduncle. Fernald cited a specimen of Ranunculus hispidus var. falsus Fern. from Indiana and some local authors have been so naming juvenile specimens of this species. Since this species roots at the nodes it certainly does not belong to Ranunculus hispidus which is an erect plant. This species is found throughout the state in wet woods and more rarely on slopes and banks. Since I have never been able to satisfactorily separate this species from the preceding one [Ranunculus hispidus] and the following variety [R. septentrionalis var. caricetorum] the maps indicate only a scattered distribution.