Posted on July 6, 2022
Greater Spearwort grows in abundance on the drying margins of the pond in the village nature area. It is part of the Buttercup family as you can tell from the way the flowers look and its scientific name Ranunculus lingua. At one time this pond also featured Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) but the Spearwort has now taken over. Many tiny bugs and beetles seem to like these flowers, and these small creatures are as important to the ecosystem as the showier and more noticeable insects like butterflies and dragonflies.