Ranunculus laxicaulis (Torrey & A. Gray) Darby. Subgenus: Auricomus. Section: Flammula. Coastal Plain Spearwort, Mississippi Buttercup. Phen: Apr-Sep. Hab: Marshes, swamps, tidal cypress swamps. Dist: DE south to sw. GA, Panhandle FL (L. Anderson, pers.comm., 2021), west to e. TX, inland in the interior to w. TN, s. IN, s. IL, MO, and KS, almost entirely on the southeastern Coastal Plain.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: R. subcordatus E.O. Beal, allegedly endemic to NC, is conspecific with R. laxicaulis.

Synonymy: = Ar, F, Fl2, FNA3, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3; > Ranunculus laxicaulis (Torr. & A.Gray) Darby – GW2, Keener (1976); > Ranunculus mississippiensis Small – S; > Ranunculus subcordatus E.O.Beal – GW2, Keener (1976); ? Ranunculus texensis Engelm. – C

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL
• Midwest: OBL

Heliophily: 7