Potentilla sect. Rubrae
Rosaceae subfam. rosoideae
ascending to nearly erect, not flagelliform, not rooting at nodes, lateral to persistent basal rosettes, (2–)3–7(–10) dm, lengths (2–)3–5 times basal leaves.
basal not 2-ranked;
cauline 1–3;
primary leaves palmate to ± subpalmate, (2–)4–15(–30) cm;
petiole: long hairs spreading to weakly appressed, weak to ± stiff, glands sparse to abundant, rarely absent;
leaflets 5–7, on tip or less than distal 1/10 of leaf axis, ± overlapping or not, oblanceolate or oblong to elliptic or obovate, margins flat, distal 1/2 to whole length evenly incised 1/5–1/4 or less to midvein, teeth (0–)4–15(–19) per side, surfaces similar or slightly to strongly dissimilar, abaxial green to white, cottony hairs absent or sparse to dense, adaxial green, not glaucous, long hairs weak to stiff.
alternate, rarely opposite, pinnately compound, sometimes simple or palmately compound;
stipules present, rarely absent.
(4–)10–40(–70)-flowered, cymose, open.
straight in fruit, 0.3–4 cm, proximal ± longer than distal.
5-merous;
hypanthium 4–6 mm diam.;
petals dark reddish to reddish orange, ± obcordate, (3.5–)5–10 mm, equal to or longer than sepals, apex retuse;
stamens 20–30;
styles subapical, tapered-filiform, papillate-swollen in proximal 1/5, 2–3.5 mm or less.
torus usually enlarged, sometimes small or absent;
carpels 1–260(–450), distinct, free, styles distinct, rarely connate (Roseae);
ovules 1(or 2), collateral (Rubeae) or superposed (Fallugia, Filipendula).
achenes or aggregated achenes sometimes with fleshy, urn-shaped hypanthium or enlarged torus, sometimes aggregated drupelets;
styles persistent or deciduous, not elongate (elongate but not plumose in Geum).
± rugose.
= 7(8).
Potentilla sect. Rubrae
Rosaceae subfam. rosoideae
Species 9 (2 in the flora).
Red petals distinguish species of sect. Rubrae from the remaining species assigned here to Potentilla. Most species in the section occur in Mexico. As traditionally defined, sect. Rubrae also includes the southeastern Asian species P. atrosanguinea Loddiges, G. Loddiges & W. Loddiges (3 leaflets), P. argyrophylla Wallich ex Lehmann (3 leaflets), and P. nepalensis Hooker (5 leaflets). The first is available in the horticultural trade and was reported in a strawberry field in New Brunswick, Canada (B. Boivin 1966b; H. J. Scoggan 1978–1979, part 3); it did not become naturalized. The name P. argyrophylla var. atrosanguinea (Loddiges, G. Loddiges & W. Loddiges) Hooker f., used in the Flora of China (Li C.-L. et al. 2003c) is incorrect; P. argyophylla (1831) is a name later than P. atrosanguinea (1823).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Variation in the number of genera in subfam. Rosoideae is due to differences in generic delimitation between D. Potter et al. (2007) and the authors of some Potentilleae genera. Cyanogenic glycosides and sorbitol are absent in the subfamily.
Tribes 6, genera 28–35, species ca. 1600 (6 tribes, 26 genera, 302 species, including 1 hybrid, in the flora)
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Basal leaves palmate; leaflets 5(–7), distal 3/4 to whole margin incised, surfaces slightly to strongly dissimilar; petals ± dark reddish throughout; cauline leaves: stipules usually toothed, sometimes entire; widespread, Arizona, New Mexico. | P. thurberi |
1. Basal leaves usually ± subpalmate, sometimes palmate; leaflets (5–)7, distal 1/2–3/4 (sometimes nearly whole) margin incised, surfaces ± similar; petals dark reddish proximally, reddish orange distally; cauline leaves: stipules usually entire; Coconino County, Arizona. | P. sanguinea |
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