Potentilla concinna
Potentilla elegans
early cinquefoil, elegant cinquefoil, red cinquefoil
elegant cinquefoil, silverweed
0.2–1.6 dm, lengths 1/2–3(–4) times basal leaves.
erect, 0.1–0.5 dm, lengths 1–2 times leaves.
usually palmate to subpalmate, sometimes subpinnate, 1(–2) pair of leaflets separate from terminal leaflets, distal leaflets distinct, 2–10(–15) cm;
petiole 1–7(–10) cm, straight hairs ± abundant, ± appressed, 1–3 mm, stiff to weak, cottony hairs present, sometimes absent;
leaflets 5(–7), on tip or to distal 1/4 of leaf axis, separate to ± overlapping, proximal pair separated from others by 0–5(–10) mm of leaf axis, central leaflets narrowly oblanceolate to obovate, 1–3(–7) × 0.4–1.2 cm, petiolules 0–2(–4) mm, distal 1/4 to whole margin incised 1/4–3/4+ to midvein, teeth (1–)2–5(–10) per side, separate, 1–6 mm, surfaces strongly to ± dissimilar, abaxial grayish to white, straight hairs ± abundant, ± appressed, 0.5–2 mm, weak to stiff (especially on veins), cottony hairs ± dense, rarely sparse, glands sparse or obscured, adaxial green to grayish, straight hairs common to abundant, appressed, 0.5–2 mm, mostly stiff, sometimes weak or mixed, cottony hairs absent or sparse, rarely common, glands ± sparse.
not in ranks, ternate, 0.5–2.5(–4) cm;
stipules: apex acute to obtuse;
petiole 0.2–1.8(–2.5) cm, long hairs ± sparse, ± spreading, 0.2–1 mm, weak, glands sparse to abundant;
leaflets 3, central obtriangular to flabellate, 0.5–0.7(–1) × 0.5–0.7 cm, petiolule 0–0.5 mm, margins flat, distal 3/4+ deeply 3–5-lobed (sinuses extending 2/3–3/4 to midvein), lobes unevenly incised 1/4–1/2 to midvein, teeth 1–3(–5) per lobe, surfaces similar, green, brownish, or reddish, hairs absent or sparse, 0.2–0.5 mm, glands sparse to common (also densely punctate-glandular).
(1–)2–12-flowered.
1-flowered.
1–2(–3) cm.
straight or ± curved, 0–0.5(–2) cm in flower, to 5 cm in fruit.
epicalyx bractlets lanceolate to narrowly ovate to linear-elliptic, sometimes doubled, (2–)2.5–5 × 1–1.5 mm;
hypanthium 3–6 mm diam.;
sepals 3.5–6 mm, apex acute;
petals (2.5–)4–9 × (2–)3–7 mm;
filaments 1–3 mm, anthers 0.5–1 mm;
carpels (7–)10–30, styles (1–)1.5–2 mm.
epicalyx bractlets linear, elliptic, or obovate, 2–2.2 × 0.8–1.1 mm, margins flat;
hypanthium 2.5–3.5 mm diam.;
sepals 2.2–2.5 mm, apex broadly acute to obtuse;
petals pale yellow, 3–3.5 × 3–3.5 mm;
filaments 1–1.5 mm, anthers 0.3–0.4 mm;
carpels 20–25, styles ± columnar, not papillate-swollen proximally, 0.7–0.9 mm.
1.5–2.5 mm, smooth to lightly rugose.
1.2 mm.
= 70.
= 14, 28 (Russian Far East).
Potentilla concinna
Potentilla elegans
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
Potentilla concinna is a relatively widespread, low-growing, early-blooming species with palmate to subpalmate, abaxially cottony leaves. Flowers often appear before leaves are fully expanded. The three varieties treated here have some level of biogeographic identity and are, therefore, given provisional taxonomic recognition. Some treatments have also included P. bicrenata, P. johnstonii, and P. macounii as varieties of P. concinna. Two Mexican species, P. leonina Standley and P. oblanceolata Rydberg, have also been treated as varieties of P. concinna by J. Soják (2006); they are retained as distinct species here, pending further research on Mexican Potentilla. Two other erstwhile varieties of P. concinna are now placed in separate sections: var. modesta (Rydberg) S. L. Welsh & B. C. Johnston (misapplied) in sect. Rubricaules as P. modesta, and var. rubripes (Rydberg) C. L. Hitchcock in sect. Subjugae, intermediate between P. saximontana and P. subjuga. Potentilla concinnaeformis Rydberg, considered to be a close relative of P. concinna by I. W. Clokey (1939), is more likely a hybrid between P. glaucophylla (sect. Graciles) and P. hippiana (sect. Leucophyllae). Hybrids also occur with P. multisecta, and probably other species as well.
Potentilla concinna was first described in 1818 as P. humifusa Nuttall, a later homonym for P. humifusa Willdenow.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
For present purposes, Potentilla elegans is treated in sect. Aureae, as was done by B. C. Johnston (1985), largely on the basis of pragmatism. J. Soják (1994) places the species instead in sect. Dumosae Soják, which otherwise comprises several Himalayan species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Distal (1/2–)3/4 to full length of central leaflets incised 1/2–3/4+ to midvein, teeth 2–6 mm; n Great Plains to c Utah. | var. divisa |
1. Distal 1/4–3/4 of central leaflets incised 1/4–1/2 to midvein, teeth 1–3(–5) mm; mostly Rocky Mountains and west | → 2 |
2. Stem lengths 1/2–1.5(–2) times basal leaves; leaves palmate, proximal leaflet pair not separated from others. | var. concinna |
2. Stem lengths 2–3(–4) times basal leaves; leaves usually palmate to subpalmate, sometimes subpinnate, proximal leaflet pair often separated from others by 1–5(–10) mm of leaf axis. | var. proxima |
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