Potentilla inclinata
Potentilla verna
ashy cinquefoil, potentille inclinée
spring cinquefoil
ascending to erect, (1–)1.5–5 dm.
prostrate to decumbent, rarely weakly erect, 0.3–1.5 dm, lengths 1–2(–3) times basal leaves.
palmate.
not in ranks, palmate, 2–5(–10) cm;
stipules: apex acuminate to acute, rarely obtuse;
petiole 1–6 cm, long hairs common, ascending to appressed, 1–2.5 mm, weak to ± stiff, glands absent or sparse;
leaflets 5–7, central oblanceolate to obovate, (0.8–)1–3 × 0.4–1.5 cm, petiolule 0–2 mm, margins flat, not lobed, distal 1/4–1/2(–2/3) evenly incised ± 1/3 to midvein, teeth 2–4(–5) per side, surfaces similar, green, hairs absent especially adaxially or sparse, 0.5–1.5(–2) mm, glands absent or sparse.
3–9, proximal ones 5–10(–14) cm;
proximal petioles 2–6(–8) cm, long hairs sparse to common, spreading to loosely appressed, 1.5–3 mm, soft to weak, short or crisped hairs abundant, cottony hairs mostly absent, glands sparse to common, usually obscured;
leaflets 5–7, central one usually ± oblanceolate, (1.5–)2–5 × 0.5–1.5 cm, margins flat or ± revolute, distal (1/2–)3/4+ usually evenly incised 1/2 to midvein, teeth 4–6(–10) per side, surfaces ± dissimilar, abaxial grayish to gray-green, long hairs sparse to common (especially on veins), 1–2.5 mm, soft to weak, short or crisped hairs ± abundant, sometimes sparse, cottony hairs absent, glands ± sparse (usually obscured), adaxial long hairs usually sparse, sometimes absent, 1–2 mm, short hairs absent or sparse, crisped and cottony hairs absent, glands absent or sparse.
10–50+-flowered.
3–5(–6)-flowered.
0.3–1.5(–3) cm.
often recurved, 1–3(–4) cm, not much longer in fruit than in flower.
epicalyx bractlets lanceolate or elliptic to oblong, 3–6 × 1–1.5 mm, length ± 1 times sepals;
sepals 3.5–6.5 mm, apex acute to acuminate;
petals 4–7(–8) × 4–5(–6) mm;
filaments 0.8–2.5 mm, anthers (0.5–)0.8–1.2 mm;
carpels 80–100+, styles 0.8–1.1 mm, scarcely papillate-swollen proximally.
epicalyx bractlets lanceolate, 3.5–5 × 1–1.5 mm, margins flat;
hypanthium 2–4 mm diam.;
sepals 3–5 mm, apex broadly acute to obtuse;
petals yellow, 5–8(–10) × 4–6 mm;
filaments 0.8–2 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm;
carpels 40–60, styles ± columnar, not papillate-swollen proximally, 1 mm.
1 mm, lightly rugose.
1.5–2 mm.
= 14, 28, 35, 42, 84 (Eurasia).
= 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 84 (Europe).
Potentilla inclinata
Potentilla verna
In addition to the characters given in the key, Potentilla inclinata in the flora area tends to have narrower leaflets, more compact inflorescences with fewer flowers, and more coarsely hairy epicalyx bractlets and sepals than P. intermedia. The species is currently becoming more common in western North America.
The name Potentilla inclinata has been conserved over P. assurgens Villars (T. Gregor et al. 2009).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The use of the name Potentilla verna here reflects the successful proposal by J. Soják (2009) to conserve P. verna with a conserved type. Alternatives in recent use include P. neumanniana Reichenbach (misapplied) and P. tabernaemontani. The species has an established horticultural presence, primarily as a ground cover, and is to be expected in North America beyond where reported here.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
BC
Flora NW
Go Botany
MI Flora
MN Wildflowers
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
