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early cinquefoil, elegant cinquefoil, red cinquefoil

creeping cinquefoil, potentille rampante

Stems

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

soon becoming prostrate, flagelliform, not branched, rooting at some nodes, 1.5–10+ 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.

persistent, usually palmate, 3–12(–30) cm;

petiole 2–10(–25) cm, long hairs sparse to abundant, tightly to loosely appressed, 0.5–1.5 mm, usually stiff, sometimes weak, glands absent;

leaflets (3–)5(–7), central oblanceolate to obovate, (0.5–)2–4(–7) × 0.3–1.5(–2.5) cm, distal ± 3/4 of margin incised 1/4–1/3 to midvein, teeth (3–)4–12 per side, surfaces similar, green, sparsely to moderately hairy.

Cauline leaves

2–3(–4) proximal to 1st flowering node, usually well expanded at anthesis, usually palmate, 2–8(–20) cm;

petiole 0.5–6(–15) cm;

leaflets (3–)5, ± resembling those of basal leaves, apex rounded to obtuse.

Inflorescences

(1–)2–12-flowered.

solitary flowers at stolon nodes.

Pedicels

1–2(–3) cm.

(2.5–)4–12(–15) 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.

5(–10)-merous;

epicalyx bractlets elliptic or oblong to ovate, 4–10 × 1.5–3.5 mm, often much larger than sepals (especially in fruit);

hypanthium 4–7 mm diam.;

sepals (3–)5–7 mm, apex broadly acute to obtuse;

petals 7–9(–12) × 6–9(–11) mm, apex usually ± retuse;

stamens ca. 20, filaments (0.5–)1–2.5(–2.8) mm, anthers (1–)1.3–2 mm;

carpels 60–120, styles 0.6–1.3 mm.

Achenes

1.5–2.5 mm, smooth to lightly rugose.

1.3–1.6 mm, ± rugose.

Rootstocks

erect, slender to stout, 2–6+ cm.

2n

= 70.

= 28 (Eurasia).

Potentilla concinna

Potentilla reptans

Phenology Flowering late Apr–Aug.
Habitat Dry to moist lawns, roadsides, waste places, on non-acidic soil
Elevation 0–500 m (0–1600 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
CA; CO; DC; FL; GA; IL; KY; LA; MA; MD; MI; MN; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; VA; WA; WI; NS; ON; QC; Europe; w Asia; n Africa; Atlantic Islands (Azores, Macaronesia) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in West Indies, Bermuda, South America, Africa (Ethiopia), Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia]
[BONAP county map]
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.)

Potentilla reptans is becoming widely introduced in North America, though not fully naturalized in some of the states indicated here. It may be confused with P. canadensis and P. simplex, but, in addition to the characters highlighted in the key, P. reptans tends to have more crenately toothed leaves than the more sharply toothed leaves of the native species. The plant has a history of medicinal uses similar to that of P. erecta. The cultivated double-flowered form is sometimes found established in weedy places.

(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. 135.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Concinnae Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Potentilla
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. 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. 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
Name authority Richardson: in J. Franklin, Narr. Journey Polar Sea, 739. (1823) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 499. (1753)
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