Flora of Ashdown Forest - Botanical Society of the British Isles

41Ranunculus repens, Creeping buttercup, Crowfoot, Goldcup, Kingcup.Ubiquitous in Ashdown Forest. It is often found in the richer, disturbed places, and like R.acris avoids the acidic soils. The grassland plants often differ from the finer, smaller plantsfound in wet flushes in woodland around the Forest, and it is known to be a very variablespecies, even within populations (Coles 1977),Found throughout Europe and Asia,Ranunculus bulbosus. Bulbous buttercup, Crowfoot, Goldcup, Kingcup.Common on the Forest (Hall 1980), with many additional records from the Weald in Briggs(1990).Locally frequent on road verges and in unimproved meadows around the Forest, floweringjust before creeping buttercup and a slightly different colour; if in doubt the reflexed sepalsshould be distinctive (but see R. sardous). Also rarely found on rides and grassy areasamongst heather as near Stone Cottage, 1995, AK.It occurs throughout Europe and locally in western Asia and North Africa.4 5Ranunculus sardous (R. hirsutus). Hairy buttercup.Fisher's Gate (Wolley-Dod 1937). Tetrads 33W and 53B (Hall 1980). Tetrads 43H and 43W(Briggs 1990) and locally frequent on the moist Ashdown Sands.This species is quite characteristic of pastures on the clays and arable land in the MedwayValley, where it may be locally abundant. There were large populations near Friars Gate in3 -++---------'+- 1987/88, and in 1991 one horse-grazed field was a sea of yellow so it is presumably not eatenlike the other buttercups. Our records are mainly from the edge of the Medway valley, with oneplant on a verge near Gills Lap. It is rather like R. bulbosus with its reflexed sepals, but itflowers for a longer period, has more yellowy-green leaves and has a few tubercles on the4 5fruits (absent in R. bulbosusl.Most frequent in west and central Europe, also in western Asia and North Africa.Ranunculus sceleratus. Celery-leaved buttercup.Pond by road, Tile Barn Farm (477.335), 1993, MM (the 33W tetrad record in Hall 1980 maybe from outside our area).This species is very characteristic of damp mud on the edges of ponds, or sometimestrampled marshes in fields, and is beautifully adapted to its temporary habitat. It is a summer3 annual or less often a winter annual, and can even produce two generations in a field season.It can form a persistent seed bank, and germination is enhanced by fluctuating temperaturesand exposure to sunlight. The plants can flower and die within two months, some producing4 5 up to 56,000 seeds. The achenes adhere well to animals and birds, and can also float forseveral days to aid dispersal to nearby habitats (Grime, Hodgson & Hunt 1988).Widespread in Britain, Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.*Ranunculus lingua. Greater spearwort.--;--===-----,--, Around pond at spring at Chelwood Vachery (432.297), 1994, TR; one plant introduced withother aquatics to a pond on the golf course, Forest Row (437.342), found on 14 August 1995and destroyed when pond cleared out the following day, TR & PW; introduced by A. Morriss toPippingford Park under pontoon bridge (449.297) and at small pond (453.316), 1995, TR.3 -++-__....----'--1-This plant of water margins and pond edges is currently spreading in Britain (Rich &Woodruff 1996), presumably from plants thrown out of gardens. It is an uncommon native offens. It also occurs in Europe (rarer in the south) and in Asia.4 5