Potentilla glaucophylla |
Potentilla erecta |
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blue-leaf cinquefoil, different-leaf cinquefoil, diverse-leaf cinquefoil, mountain meadow cinquefoil, vari-leaf cinquefoil |
erect cinquefoil, tormentil |
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| Glands | absent or inconspicuous, uncolored. |
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| Stems | mostly ± ascending, 0.5–3(–4.5) dm. |
mostly ascending to erect, not flagelliform, openly branched, not rooting at nodes, (0.5–)1–5(–7) dm. |
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| Basal leaves | often 2-ranked, palmate, sometimes subpalmate, 2–20 cm; petiole (0.5–)1–8(–14) cm, long hairs often absent, sometimes sparse to abundant, usually appressed, 1–2 mm, weak to ± stiff, short, crisped, and cottony hairs absent, glands absent or sparse; leaflets 5–6(–7), sometimes with 1–2(–4) additional, smaller, entire leaflets, on tip or to distal 1/10(–1/4) of leaf axis, separate, largest ones oblanceolate or cuneate to obovate, 1–4(–6) × 0.5–1.5(–2) cm, margins flat, distal 1/3–1/2(–2/3) ± evenly incised 1/2 or nearly to midvein, undivided medial blade 1.5–7(–10) mm wide, teeth 1–3(–5) per side, broadly lanceolate or linear to narrowly oblong, 1–5(–8) mm, surfaces similar adaxial ± less hairy, ± blue-green, usually glaucous, long hairs sparse to abundant (often restricted to veins, distal teeth, and margins), short, crisped, and cottony hairs absent, glands absent or sparse. |
ephemeral, usually ternate, 2–15 cm; petiole (1–)3–13 cm, long hairs sparse to common, appressed, 0.5–1 mm, stiff, glands absent; leaflets 3(–5), central ± obovate to cuneate, (0.5–)1–2 × (0.3–)1–1.5 cm, distal 1/2–2/3 of margin incised ± 1/3 to midvein, teeth 2–4 per side, surfaces similar, green (abaxial sometimes paler), glabrate or sparsely to moderately hairy. |
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| Cauline leaves | (0–)1–2(–3). |
(0–)1–3(–7) proximal to 1st flowering node, expanded at anthesis, usually ternate, rarely palmate (or appearing so because of leafletlike stipules), (0.5–)1–3 cm; petiole usually 0 cm; leaflets 3(–5), usually much narrower than those of basal leaves, narrowly cuneate to oblanceolate, (0.5–)1–3 × (0.2–)0.5–1 cm, distal 1/3–2/3 of margin incised ± 1/2 to midvein, teeth 2–4(–6) per side, apex usually obtuse to acute. |
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| Inflorescences | 2–10(–20)-flowered. |
3–30-flowered, cymose, open. |
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| Pedicels | (0.5–)1–3(–6.5) cm. |
(1–)2–3(–5) cm. |
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| Flowers | epicalyx bractlets lanceolate to elliptic, 2–5 × 0.8–1.2(–1.6) mm, hairs sparse to common, rarely abundant, ± ascending, glands absent or inconspicuous; hypanthium 3.5–5 mm diam.; sepals (2–)2.5–4.5(–5) mm, apex acute to short acuminate; petals (4–)5–10(–12) × 4–9(–10) mm; filaments 1.5–2.5(–3) mm, anthers 0.4–0.7(–0.9) mm; carpels 25–40, styles filiform above papillate-swollen base, 1.5–2.5(–3) mm. |
4(–5)-merous; epicalyx bractlets ovate to narrowly elliptic, 1.5–4 × 0.5–1 mm, much smaller than to sometimes equal to sepals; hypanthium 1.5–2.5 mm diam.; sepals (2–)3–5 mm, apex broadly acute; petals (2–)4–6 × (1.5–)3–6 mm, apex ± retuse; stamens 15–20, filaments 2–3.8 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm; carpels 4–8(–20), styles 0.9–1.4 mm. |
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| Achenes | 1.2–1.6 mm. |
1.2–2 mm, rugose. |
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| Rootstocks | erect to horizontal, irregularly thickened, 1–8 cm. |
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| 2n | = 28 (Eurasia). |
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Potentilla glaucophylla |
Potentilla erecta |
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| Phenology | Flowering unknown. | |||||
| Habitat | Moist, mossy flats and slopes, acidic soil | |||||
| Elevation | 0–100 m [0–300 ft] | |||||
| Distribution |
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NL; NT; SK; YT
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MA; NS; Europe; w Asia; n Africa; Atlantic Islands (Azores) [Introduced in North America] |
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| Discussion | Varieties 2 (2 in the flora). Potentilla glaucophylla replaces P. diversifolia; an examination of the lectotype of the latter confirms J. Soják’s (1996) conclusion that P. diversifolia applies to a hybrid involving P. glaucophylla and P. hippiana. Historically, this species was often termed P. dissecta Pursh, a misapplied name that has been rejected (B. Ertter et al. 2008). In addition to the nomenclatural change, the circumscription of Potentilla glaucophylla is here restricted to plants with usually glaucous, blue-green, distally toothed leaflets that are usually glabrate (at least in var. glaucophylla). Plants from the Colorado Plateau and southern Rocky Mountains formerly included in this species and having dark green leaves, more leaflet teeth, and larger anthers are transferred either to P. townsendii or to a currently undescribed entity. The two-ranked leaves of Potentilla glaucophylla suggest a possible connection to P. crantzii in sect. Aureae. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Although included here, Potentilla erecta is questionably extant as a naturalized species in North America and is not currently known from Newfoundland where historically reported. It is a medicinal plant called tormentil, high in tannins and strongly astringent. A tea made from the tuberous rootstock is widely used in Europe and parts of Asia for diarrhea, dysentery, sore throats, and related problems. A decoction is a mild antibiotic used for cuts and minor infections, especially as an anti-inflammatory for gingivitis and other gum problems. The rootstock is used as a red dye. Another synonym with a long history of use is Potentilla tormentilla Necker, illegitimate by virtue of being superfluous. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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| Key |
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| Synonyms | P. diversifolia var. glaucophylla | Tormentilla erecta | ||||
| Name authority | Lehmann: Index Seminum (Hamburg) 1836: 7. (1836) | (Linnaeus) Raeuschel: Nomencl. Bot, 152. (1797) | ||||
| Source | FNA vol. 9, p. 152. | FNA vol. 9, p. 136. | ||||
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