Unusual Creeping Buttercup

A little while ago Mark Spencer (VCR for London) put a note in the BSBI England Newsletter asking recorders to keep their eyes open for a very robust (the leaves are up to hand-sized) glabrous form of Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) with an association with tidal watercourses. It needs more research, but Mark advises that it is currently being recorded as var. glabratus.

Luckily I had read the Newsletter prior to a trip to Keadby, North Lincolnshire (VC54). So when I was on the banks of the River Trent in just the right habitat and found just such a plant my brain went 'ping'. A few photos (see below) via email to Mark and the ID was confirmed.

I'm sure Mark would welcome a few more records, as well as observations on how well it flowers and sets seed (early impressions are it is not very good at doing either). There is an awful lot of suitable habitat between Keadby and Mark's records along the tidal River Thames, so it might prove widespread.