This annual buttercup with a western Mediterranean-Macaronesian distribution is present in Tuscany, Sardinia, Abruzzo, and in all regions of Southern Italy except perhaps in Molise and Campania (from where it has not been reported since a long time). It grows in wet sites such as ponds, swamps, temporary pools, sometimes in irrigated crops, on muddy soils, from sea level to about 600 m. It is a characteristic, but rare species of the Mediterranean temporary ponds of Sardinia, usually found in the outer belt. The whole plant, when fresh, is toxic for the presence of an alkaloid (protoanemonine). The genus name, the Latin for 'little frog', was used since ancient times only for the aquatic species of the subgenus Batrachion, also a diminutive of the Greek 'batràchos' (frog); the species name refers to the shape of the leaves, which are 3-lobed. Flowering period: April to May.

Italian name(s): Ranuncolo trilobato (Italia).