Aponogeton ranunculiflorus, the Sehlabathebe water lily, is a tiny and endangered species[3] of aquatic plant, that belongs to the pondweed family Aponogetonaceae.

It is found in sandstone rock pools, up to 7 metres deep, and in permanently wet tarns or sensitive high altitude mires,[1] at altitudes between about 2,600 and 3,200 metres.

Its spiralled stems allow the flowers to remain at surface level.

[3] Threats to the species include overgrazing and trampling by cattle, overburning, erosion and subsistence farming.

[1] Their small (1 cm) corms can survive the drying out of the pools, or being frozen into the muddy bottoms.