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early cinquefoil, elegant cinquefoil, red cinquefoil

Beringian cinquefoil, yurtsev's cinquefoil

Habit Plants ± densely tufted.
Caudex branches

stout, usually columnar, sometimes sheathed with marcescent whole leaves.

Stems

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

erect, (0.2–)0.3–1.5(–2) dm, lengths 1.5–2.5(–3.5) times basal leaves.

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.

(1–)2–10(–15) cm;

petiole (0.5–)1–5(–12) cm, long hairs common to dense, ± ascending to loosely appressed, sometimes spreading, 1–2 mm, ± soft, smooth, crisped/short-cottony hairs usually sparse, sometimes absent or common, glands absent, sparse, or obscured;

leaflets separate to slightly overlapping, central obovate or obtriangular, (0.5–)1–2(–3) × (0.4–)0.8–1.5(–2) cm, sessile or subsessile, base cuneate, margins revolute, distal (1/3–)1/2–2/3(–3/4) incised 1/2–2/3(–3/4) to midvein, teeth 2–3(–4) per side, usually ± distant, surfaces somewhat to more often strongly dissimilar, abaxial yellowish or grayish white to white, long hairs 0.8–1.5 mm, cottony-crisped hairs ± dense, adaxial green to grayish green, long hairs sparse to ± abundant, other hairs usually absent.

Cauline leaves

(0–)1(–2).

Inflorescences

(1–)2–12-flowered.

usually 1(–2)-flowered, rarely to 5-flowered.

Pedicels

1–2(–3) cm.

(0.5–)2–4 cm in flower, to 5 cm in fruit.

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 elliptic-lanceolate to ovate, (3–)4–6(–7) × (0.8–)1.2–2(–2.5) mm, (1/2–)2/3 to as wide as sepals, margins revolute, rarely flat, red glands absent;

hypanthium 2.5–4 mm diam.;

sepals 4–6(–7) mm, apex subacute;

petals (5–)6–9 × (5–)7–9 mm, significantly longer than sepals;

filaments 1–1.3 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm;

carpels 30–40, apical hairs absent, styles narrowly columnar to conic-tapered, papillate-swollen on proximal 1/5(–1/3), 0.9–1.1 mm.

Achenes

1.5–2.5 mm, smooth to lightly rugose.

1.2–2 mm.

2n

= 70.

= 28, 42, 49, 56 (Russian Far East).

Potentilla concinna

Potentilla subgorodkovii

Phenology Flowering late spring to summer.
Habitat Dry alpine heaths, exposed ridges and summits, rock outcrops, scree and talus, dry tundra, acidic and calcareous bedrock
Elevation 0–4300 m (0–14100 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
AK; CO; MT; UT; WY; AB; BC; NT; NU; YT; Asia (Russian Far East, Sakha [Yakutia])
[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.)

The name Potentilla subgorodkovii was coined for a presumed hybrid species resulting from P. crebridens × P. subvahliana; here it is applied in a collective meaning for plants combining characteristics from multiple species of the P. uniflora/villosa and P. nivea groups. Morphologically, this collective entity is much closer to the P. uniflora/villosa group than to the P. nivea group and is clearly different from primary hybrids and clones, which are often observed.

Potentilla subgorodkovii constitutes about half of what previously has been considered P. uniflora in Alaska and Yukon and is the only such entity fully confirmed south of northern British Columbia. These southern populations occur outside the range of possible parental members of the P. uniflora/villosa group and do not support the hybrid hypothesis. They may instead represent a distinct species, not yet described.

(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. 204.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Concinnae Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Niveae
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. 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. 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) Jurtzev: Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 78: 83. (1993)
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