It is a
herbaceous,
stoloniferous
perennial plant growing to tall. It has both prostrate running stems, which produce
roots and new plants at the nodes, and more or less erect flowering stems. The basal
leaves are compound, borne on a long
petiole and divided into three broad leaflets long, shallowly to deeply lobed, each of which is stalked, distinguishing the species from
Ranunculus acris in which the terminal leaflet is
sessile. The leaves higher on the stems are smaller, with narrower leaflets and may be simple and lanceolate. Both the stems and the leaves are finely hairy. The
flowers are golden yellow,
glossy, and diameter, usually with five petals, and the flower stem is finely grooved. The gloss is caused by the smooth upper surface of the petal that acts like a mirror; the gloss aids in attracting
pollinating insects and
thermoregulation of the flower's reproductive organs. The
fruit is a cluster of
achenes long. Creeping buttercup has three-lobed dark green, white-spotted leaves that grow out of the node. It grows in fields and
pastures and prefers wet soil. ==Habitat==