Ranunculus spp.-dominated communities developed in shallow-waters of very low salinity of coastal lagoons, coastal basins and coastal waters of the Palaearctic region, including the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. The most widespread characteristic species is Ranunculus baudotii. Locally, other crowfoots may be typical, as, in particular, in the Gulf of Bothnia, Ranunculus trichophyllus (Ranunculus confervoides).