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blue-leaf cinquefoil, different-leaf cinquefoil, diverse-leaf cinquefoil, mountain meadow cinquefoil, vari-leaf cinquefoil

potentille jolie, pretty cinquefoil

Glands

absent or inconspicuous, uncolored.

Stems

mostly ± ascending, 0.5–3(–4.5) dm.

ascending, 0.1–1.5(–2) dm.

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.

subpinnate, 1.5–9 cm;

petiole 0.7–4 cm, long hairs common to dense, ± appressed to ascending, 0.5–3 mm, soft, short hairs absent, crisped hairs sparse to abundant, glands absent or sparse;

leaflets (1–)2(–3) per side, on distal 1/6–1/2 of leaf axis, separate to overlapping, terminal ones oblong or obovate, 0.4–3 × 0.2–1.2 cm, margins revolute, incised 2/3–3/4+ to midvein, undivided medial blade 2–6 mm wide, teeth 2–5 per side, linear to narrowly oblong, surfaces dissimilar, abaxial white, long hairs ± abundant, 1–2 mm, soft, short hairs absent or obscured, crisped and/or cottony hairs dense, glands absent or obscured, adaxial grayish white to dark grayish green, long hairs sparse to dense, loosely appressed to spreading, 0.5–2 mm, short hairs absent, crisped hairs absent or sparse, glands absent.

Cauline leaves

(0–)1–2(–3).

1–2.

Inflorescences

2–10(–20)-flowered.

(1–)2–5(–9)-flowered, ± open.

Pedicels

(0.5–)1–3(–6.5) cm.

0.5–1 cm (proximal to 5 cm).

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.

epicalyx bractlets oblong to ovate, 2–4(–6) × 0.8–1.3(–2) mm, lengths ± 3/4 times sepals, margins sometimes revolute;

hypanthium 2.5–4 mm diam.;

sepals 3–5 mm, apex obtuse to subacute, abaxial surfaces: venation indistinct, glands ± abundant, often obscured;

petals pale yellow, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, lengths 1.5 times sepals;

filaments 1–1.5 mm, anthers 0.4 mm;

carpels 30–60, styles papillate-swollen in proximal 1/4–1/3, 0.9–1.2 mm.

Achenes

1.2–1.6 mm.

1.4–1.5 mm, smooth or rugose.

2n

= 28.

Potentilla glaucophylla

Potentilla pulchella

Phenology Flowering summer.
Habitat Dry or damp, open tundra, silt flats, stream and seashore banks, bird cliff meadows, fine scree, on loam, clay, or calcareous substrates
Elevation 0–600 m (0–2000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NL; NT; SK; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; MB; NL; NT; NU; ON; QC; YT; Greenland; Eurasia
[BONAP county map]
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.)

Potentilla pulchella is morphologically isolated within sect. Pensylvanicae and is very polymorphic. The proposed races (var. elatior, subsp./var. gracilicaulis) differ only in characters appearing throughout the range of the species (more slender and erect to ascending stems, less hairy leaves). Some different morphs are often found close together but in different habitats.

Some species with palmate or subpalmate leaves combine features of Potentilla pulchella and species from sect. Niveae (addressed under 8t. sect. Rubricaules); others are possible hybrids between P. hyparctica and P. pulchella (sect. Aureae).

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

Key
1. Leaflets incised 1/3–1/2 to midvein, teeth broadly lanceolate; range of species.
var. glaucophylla
1. Leaflets incised 3/4+ to midvein, teeth linear to narrowly oblong; northern Rocky Mountains.
var. perdissecta
Source FNA vol. 9, p. 152. FNA vol. 9, p. 217.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Graciles Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Potentilleae > Potentilla > sect. Pensylvanicae
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. 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. 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. 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. glaucophylla var. glaucophylla, P. glaucophylla var. perdissecta
Synonyms P. diversifolia var. glaucophylla P. pulchella var. elatior, P. pulchella subsp. gracilicaulis, P. pulchella var. gracilicaulis, P. usticapensis
Name authority Lehmann: Index Seminum (Hamburg) 1836: 7. (1836) R. Brown: Chlor. Melvill., 19. (1823)
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