Potentilla anglica
Potentilla rhyolitica
English cinquefoil, potentille d'angleterre, trailing cinquefoil, trailing tormentil, wood cinquefoil
soon becoming prostrate, ± flagelliform, usually openly branched, eventually rooting at some nodes, (0.3–)1.5–7+ dm.
0.2–2 dm.
± persistent, ternate or palmate, 2–10(–12) cm;
petiole 1–7(–8) cm, long hairs sparse to abundant, appressed, 0.5–1 mm, stiff, glands absent;
leaflets 3–5, central ± obovate to cuneate, 1–3(–3.5) × 0.8–2(–2.5) cm, distal ± 1/2 of margin incised 1/4–1/3(–1/2) to midvein, teeth 2–4 per side, surfaces similar, green, sparsely to moderately hairy.
ternate, rarely palmate, 2–8(–11) cm;
petiole 1–6(–8) cm, long hairs abundant to dense, spreading to loosely appressed, 1–2(–3) mm, weak to ± stiff, glands ± abundant;
leaflets 3(–5), central obovate to broadly elliptic, 1–3 × 0.8–1.8 cm, often distinctly petiolulate, distal 1/2–2/3 of margins evenly incised ± 1/3 to midvein, teeth 2–3(–4) per side, surfaces green to gray-green, long hairs common to dense, 1 mm, glands abundant.
2–3(–4) proximal to 1st flowering or branching node, usually well expanded at anthesis, usually ternate, 2–6(–10) cm;
petiole 0.3–4(–8) cm;
leaflets (3–)5, ± resembling or narrower than those of basal leaves, narrowly cuneate, 1–2(–3.5) × 0.8–2(–2.5) cm, apex rounded to obtuse.
solitary flowers at stolon nodes.
1–10-flowered.
(1–)3–10(–17) cm.
0.5–1(–2) cm.
4(–5)-merous;
epicalyx bractlets narrowly elliptic to oblong or ovate, 3–4(–7) × 1–1.5 mm, smaller than to slightly larger than sepals;
hypanthium 2–4 mm diam.;
sepals (3–)4–6 mm, apex broadly acute or acuminate;
petals 6–9 × 5–9 mm, apex ± retuse;
stamens 15–20, filaments 0.8–1.2 mm, anthers 0.8–1.2 mm;
carpels 20–50, styles 0.9–1.5 mm.
epicalyx bractlets lanceolate-elliptic, 2–4 × 1 mm;
hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.;
sepals 3–5 mm, apex acute;
petals ± paler abaxially, bright yellow adaxially, ± obcordate, 3–7 × 2–5 mm;
filaments 1.5–3 mm, anthers 0.6–1 mm;
carpels 5–15, styles 2–3 mm.
1–1.5(–1.8) mm, ± smooth.
1.5–2 mm, smooth to lightly rugose.
± erect, stout to slender, 1–4 cm.
hairs not well differentiated from long hairs, absent or sparse throughout.
= 28, 56 (Europe).
Potentilla anglica
Potentilla rhyolitica
Potentilla anglica apparently is a product of hybridization involving P. erecta and P. reptans (B. Matfield and J. R. Ellis 1972) that has become stabilized and distinct from both parents. In Europe, it forms back-cross hybrids with both P. erecta (P. ×suberecta Zimmeter) and P. reptans (P. ×mixta Nolte); these hybrids are not known from North America. A garden hybrid supposedly between P. anglica and P. nepalensis Hooker (known as P. ×tonguei Mallett) was found in Allegany State Park, New York, but this was likely cultivated rather than naturalized.
Potentilla anglica probably was introduced even in Newfoundland (A. Kurtto et al. in J. Jalas et al. 1972+, vol. 13), contrary to the view expressed by M. L. Fernald (1950).
The name Potentilla procumbens Sibthorp was previously used for this species; that is a superfluous and illegitimate name.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves gray-green, hairs usually dense, sometimes common; styles 2–2.5 mm; achenes 1.5 mm, smooth to lightly rugose; Santa Rita and Huachuca ranges. | var. rhyolitica |
1. Leaves green, hairs common, rarely dense; styles (2–)2.5–3 mm; achenes 2 mm, smooth; Chiricahua Range. | var. chiricahuensis |
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
