Potentilla ovina
Potentilla ovina var. decurrens
sheep cinquefoil
sheep cinquefoil
prostrate to ascending, (0.3–)0.8–2(–3.5) dm, lengths (1–)1.5–3 times basal leaves.
lengths (1.5–)2–3 times basal leaves.
pinnate with distal leaflets ± distinct, (1.5–)2–10(–13) × 0.7–3.5(–5) cm;
petiole 0.5–3.5(–5) cm, straight hairs sparse to abundant, sometimes absent (var. decurrens), ± appressed to ascending, 1 mm, ± stiff, cottony hairs absent, glands sparse, often obscured;
primary lateral leaflets 3–6 per side (often with additional interspersed leaflets), on distal 1/2–2/3(–3/4) of leaf axis, ± separate to ± overlapping, largest ones narrowly cuneate-oblanceolate to ± obovate, (0.3–)0.5–2(–3.5) × (0.2–)0.3–0.8(–1) cm, distal 1/4 to whole margin unevenly to pinnately (at least distal leaflets of var. ovina) incised 1/2–3/4+ to midvein, ultimate teeth 2–9(–11), linear or oblong to ovate, 1–7(–9) × 1–2 mm, apical tufts 0.5–2 mm, surfaces green to grayish, not glaucous, straight hairs sparse to abundant (sparser adaxially), sometimes absent (except on margins), loosely appressed, 0.5–2 mm, ± stiff, cottony hairs absent, crisped hairs sometimes sparse to common, glands absent or inconspicuous.
2–10(–13) × 1–3.5(–5) cm;
petiole 0.5–3.5(–5) cm;
lateral leaflets on distal 1/2–2/3(–3/4) of leaf axis, ± separate, distal leaflets narrowly cuneate-oblanceolate to obovate, (0.5–)1–2(–3.5) cm, distal 1/4–1/2(–3/4) of margin unevenly to pinnately incised 1/2–2/3(–3/4) to midvein, teeth 2–5(–7), ovate to oblong, 1–7 × 1–2 mm, surfaces green, hairs absent (except on margins) or sparse, 0.5–1 mm.
1–2.
(1–)2–11(–20)-flowered, usually openly cymose.
(0.8–)1–2(–4) cm, straight to ± recurved in fruit.
epicalyx bractlets linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, sometimes doubled, 2–3.5(–5) × 1 mm;
hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.;
sepals 3.5–5.5(–7) mm, apex acute to obtuse;
petals 4–7(–8) × 3.5–8 mm;
filaments 1–2.5 mm, anthers 0.4–1 mm usually ± 1/2 as long as filaments;
carpels 10–20, styles 2–3 mm.
1.5–2 mm, smooth, not carunculate.
1.5–1.8 mm.
Potentilla ovina
Potentilla ovina var. decurrens
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Potentilla ovina is here accepted as an implicit new name by J. M. Macoun for P. diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, in agreement with N. H. Holmgren (1997b). In contrast, B. C. Johnston (1980) considered the names heterotypic. Potentilla ovina has priority at the species rank over P. pinnatisecta by one month.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Variety decurrens at its most distinctive has elongate cuneate-oblanceolate, glabrate, apically toothed leaflets that are well spaced on the leaf axis. This extreme is most commonly found in the Uinta Mountains of Utah and the Medicine Bow Mountains of Wyoming. Collections from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada are more equivocal and might represent hybrids or extreme forms of other (or undescribed) taxa.
Although B. C. Johnston (1980) is provisionally followed in associating var. decurrens with Potentilla ovina, comparisons can also be made with P. drummondii and P. glaucophylla, both placed here in sect. Graciles. Apparent intergradation exists in all directions.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Distal leaflets: ± whole margin pinnately incised 3/4+ to midvein, teeth 4–9(–11), linear, surfaces grayish, rarely green, hairs sparse to dense. | var. ovina |
1. Distal leaflets: distal 1/4–1/2(–3/4) of margin unevenly to pinnately incised 1/2–2/3(–3/4) to midvein, teeth 2–5(–7), ovate to oblong, surfaces green, hairs absent (except on margins) or sparse. | var. decurrens |
BC
OR
CalFlora
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
