Adder's-tongue Spearwort
Ranunculus ophioglossifolius
Ranunculus ophioglossifolius, known as adder's-tongue spearwort, is a herbaceous plant in the family Ranunculaceae, with small, bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_ophioglossifolius
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ranunculales
Family
Ranunculaceae
Genus
Ranunculus
Adder's-tongue Spearwort belongs to the family Ranunculaceae, order Ranunculales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Ranunculus ophioglossifolius, known as adder's-tongue spearwort, is a herbaceous plant in the family Ranunculaceae, with small, bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers.
Adder's-tongue Spearwort faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification, drainage of wetlands, and urban development. The species' specialized requirements for temporary shallow water bodies make it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes and land use conversion.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Ranunculus ophioglossifolius is found widely in southern Europe (especially in Sardinia), North Africa (including Macaronesia) and western Asia. In 1957, it was introduced to New Zealand. In the British Isles, it is now restricted to two sites, and in Scandinavia, it is only found at a few sites on the island of Gotland.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Adder's-tongue Spearwort faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification, drainage of wetlands, and urban development. The species' specialized requirements for temporary shallow water bodies make it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes and land use conversion.
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Drainage and modification of wetland habitats
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Habitat fragmentation
Hydrological changes affecting water levels
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Adder's-tongue Spearwort (Ranunculus ophioglossifolius). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/adders-tongue-spearwort