The Water Crowfoot is really a white Buttercup, and it likes to grow in
ponds or in rivers that run very slowly. The flowers are at their best
in May and June.
These flowers have five glossy white petals, and each petal has a yellow
patch at the foot. Behind these beautiful white petals there are five
green sepals which fold back close round the flower-stalk.
Within the flower there are stamens with thick yellow heads, growing in
a circle round a small green knot which holds the seed-vessels.
This Water Crowfoot has two kinds of leaves. Some grow underneath the
water, and these leaves are divided into fine hairs, which are each
forked at the end. The water runs very easily through these hairs.
But those leaves which are above the water are solid. They are dark
green and glossy, and are nearly round. Each leaf is divided into three
parts, and sometimes the edges are cut up, and often they are quite
smooth.
You may sometimes find a leaf with one-half made up of hairy threads
while the other half is solid.
PLATE XVI: 1. SHEPHERD'S PURSE 2. COMMON SCURVY GRASS
3. HAIRY ROCK CRESS