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early cinquefoil, elegant cinquefoil, red cinquefoil

graceful cinquefoil, Hooker's cinquefoil

Caudex branches

not sheathed with marcescent whole leaves.

Stems

0.2–1.6 dm, lengths 1/2–3(–4) times basal leaves.

ascending to nearly erect, (0.3–)0.5–2 dm.

Basal 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.

usually both ternate and palmate on same plant, rarely subpalmate, 1–9 cm;

petiole 0.5–6 cm, long hairs common to abundant, ± appressed to ascending-spreading, (0.5–)1–1.5(–2) mm, usually stiff, rarely weak, verrucose, short-crisped hairs sparse to common, cottony hairs absent, glands ± sparse;

leaflets 3–5, proximalmost separated by 0(–1) mm, central oblanceolate to obovate, 0.5–2.5 × 0.4–1.2 cm, petiolules 0–1 mm, distal ± 3/4 of margin incised 1/2–3/4, rarely +, to midvein, teeth 2–6 per side, 1–5 mm, apical tufts 0.5–1 mm, abaxial surfaces grayish white to white, long hairs common to abundant, cottony-crisped hairs usually dense, short hairs and glands absent or obscured, adaxial green to grayish green, long hairs sparse to common, 0.5–1.5 mm, usually stiff, short and/or crisped hairs sparse to common, cottony hairs absent, glands sparse to common.

Cauline leaves

1–2.

Inflorescences

(1–)2–12-flowered.

1–6(–8)-flowered, open, branch angle 20–50°.

Pedicels

1–2(–3) cm.

(0.5–)1–2 cm, proximal to 3 cm.

Flowers

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 to oblong-lanceolate, 2–3 × 0.7–1.3 mm;

hypanthium 3–4 mm diam.;

sepals 3–5 mm, apex subacute, glands ± common, not obscured;

petals yellow, ± overlapping, 3–6(–7) × 4–5 mm, usually longer than sepals;

filaments 0.5–1.5 mm, anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

carpels 30–50, styles 0.8–1.2 mm.

Achenes

1.5–2.5 mm, smooth to lightly rugose.

1–1.3 mm.

2n

= 70.

Potentilla concinna

Potentilla hookeriana

Phenology Flowering (spring–)summer.
Habitat Alpine ridges, fellfields, scree slopes, rocky canyons
Elevation 1400–3900 m (4600–12800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; MT; ND; NM; NV; OH; SD; UT; WY; AB; MB; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; ID; MT; NV; UT; WY; AB; BC
Discussion

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.)

As here defined, Potentilla hookeriana consists of primarily alpine plants from the Rocky Mountains and adjacent desert mountains that share many of the same characters with P. rubricaulis but are smaller overall. Arctic plants previously included in P. hookeriana are now assigned to P. arenosa (J. Soják 1986; B. Ertter et al. 2013).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
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
Source FNA vol. 9, p. 178. FNA vol. 9, p. 208.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Concinnae Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Rubricaules
Sibling taxa
P. albiflora, P. ambigens, P. anachoretica, P. angelliae, P. anglica, P. anserina, P. arenosa, P. argentea, P. arizonica, P. basaltica, P. bicrenata, P. biennis, P. biflora, P. bimundorum, P. bipinnatifida, P. brevifolia, P. breweri, P. bruceae, P. brunnescens, P. canadensis, P. cottamii, P. crantzii, P. crebridens, P. crinita, P. cristae, P. demotica, P. drummondii, P. effusa, P. elegans, P. erecta, P. flabellifolia, P. fragiformis, P. furcata, P. glaucophylla, P. gracilis, P. grayi, P. hickmanii, P. hippiana, P. holmgrenii, P. hookeriana, P. hyparctica, P. inclinata, P. intermedia, P. jepsonii, P. johnstonii, P. lasiodonta, P. litoralis, P. macounii, P. millefolia, P. modesta, P. morefieldii, P. multijuga, P. multisecta, P. nana, P. newberryi, P. nivea, P. norvegica, P. ovina, P. paucijuga, P. pedersenii, P. pensylvanica, P. plattensis, P. pseudosericea, P. pulchella, P. pulcherrima, P. recta, P. reptans, P. rhyolitica, P. rimicola, P. rivalis, P. robbinsiana, P. rubella, P. rubricaulis, P. sanguinea, P. saximontana, P. sierrae-blancae, P. simplex, P. sterilis, P. stipularis, P. subgorodkovii, P. subjuga, P. subvahliana, P. subviscosa, P. supina, P. thurberi, P. thuringiaca, P. tikhomirovii, P. townsendii, P. uliginosa, P. uschakovii, P. vahliana, P. verna, P. versicolor, P. villosa, P. villosula, P. vulcanicola, P. wheeleri
P. albiflora, P. ambigens, P. anachoretica, P. angelliae, P. anglica, P. anserina, P. arenosa, P. argentea, P. arizonica, P. basaltica, P. bicrenata, P. biennis, P. biflora, P. bimundorum, P. bipinnatifida, P. brevifolia, P. breweri, P. bruceae, P. brunnescens, P. canadensis, P. concinna, P. cottamii, P. crantzii, P. crebridens, P. crinita, P. cristae, P. demotica, P. drummondii, P. effusa, P. elegans, P. erecta, P. flabellifolia, P. fragiformis, P. furcata, P. glaucophylla, P. gracilis, P. grayi, P. hickmanii, P. hippiana, P. holmgrenii, P. hyparctica, P. inclinata, P. intermedia, P. jepsonii, P. johnstonii, P. lasiodonta, P. litoralis, P. macounii, P. millefolia, P. modesta, P. morefieldii, P. multijuga, P. multisecta, P. nana, P. newberryi, P. nivea, P. norvegica, P. ovina, P. paucijuga, P. pedersenii, P. pensylvanica, P. plattensis, P. pseudosericea, P. pulchella, P. pulcherrima, P. recta, P. reptans, P. rhyolitica, P. rimicola, P. rivalis, P. robbinsiana, P. rubella, P. rubricaulis, P. sanguinea, P. saximontana, P. sierrae-blancae, P. simplex, P. sterilis, P. stipularis, P. subgorodkovii, P. subjuga, P. subvahliana, P. subviscosa, P. supina, P. thurberi, P. thuringiaca, P. tikhomirovii, P. townsendii, P. uliginosa, P. uschakovii, P. vahliana, P. verna, P. versicolor, P. villosa, P. villosula, P. vulcanicola, P. wheeleri
Subordinate taxa
P. concinna var. concinna, P. concinna var. divisa, P. concinna var. proxima
Synonyms P. nivea subsp. hookeriana, P. nivea var. hookeriana
Name authority Richardson: in J. Franklin, Narr. Journey Polar Sea, 739. (1823) Lehmann: Index Seminum (Hamburg) 1849: 10. (1849)
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