Potentilla simplex
Potentilla hickmanii
common cinquefoil, old-field cinquefoil, old-field five-fingers, potentille simple, simple cinquefoil
Hickman's cinquefoil
initially erect to ascending to 5 dm, then arching above ground-level, becoming prostrate, flagelliform, not branched, rooting at distal nodes, (0.5–)1.5–12 dm.
usually prostrate to decumbent, sometimes ± ascending in supporting vegetation, 0.5–2.5 dm, lengths 1–2 times basal leaves.
persistent or ephemeral, usually palmate, 3.5–20 cm;
petiole 1–15 cm, long hairs ± abundant, appressed to spreading, (0.5–)1–3 mm, weak to ± stiff, glands absent or sparse, sometimes common;
leaflets 5(–7), central narrowly elliptic to obovate, 1.5–5 × 0.5–2.5 cm, distal 1/2–3/4 of margin incised 1/4–1/3 to midvein, teeth 4–8(–13) per side, surfaces similar to ± dissimilar, abaxial green to silvery white, sparsely to abundantly hairy, adaxial green, glabrate or sparsely to moderately hairy.
pinnate with distal leaflets ± confluent, 3–17 × 1–3.5 cm;
petiole 1–5 cm, straight hairs sparse to common, appressed, 0.5–1.5(–2) mm, stiff, cottony hairs absent, glands absent or sparse;
primary lateral leaflets 3–6 per side, on distal 1/2–2/3 of leaf axis, ± overlapping to nearly separate, largest ones cuneate to flabellate, 0.5–2 × 0.5–1.5 cm, distal 1/2 to whole margin ± palmately incised 1/2–2/3(+) to midvein, ultimate teeth or segments 2–5, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 2–10(–15) × (1–)1.5–3 mm, apical tufts 0.5 mm, surfaces green, not glaucous, straight hairs sparse to common (often sparser to glabrate adaxially), appressed, 1–1.5 mm, stiff, cottony hairs absent, glands absent or inconspicuous.
(0–)1 proximal to 1st flowering node, well expanded at anthesis, usually palmate, 2.5–6(–9) cm;
petiole 0–2(–4) cm;
leaflets (3–)5, often more elongate than those of basal leaves, ± elliptic to oblanceolate, sometimes obovate, 1.5–6(–7.5) × 0.5–2(–3) cm, apex acute to obtuse.
2.
solitary flowers at stolon nodes.
2–5-flowered, very openly cymose, sometimes racemiform.
1–5(–8.5) cm.
1–2(–4) cm, ± recurved in fruit.
5(–6)-merous;
epicalyx bractlets linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2–5 × 1–1.5(–2) mm, often larger than sepals (especially in bud);
hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.;
sepals 4–6 mm, apex broadly acute;
petals 4–7 × 3–6 mm, apex rounded to ± retuse;
stamens ca. 20, filaments 0.5–2 mm, anthers 0.6–1 mm;
carpels 20–50, styles 0.8–1.5 mm.
epicalyx bractlets ± elliptic, 3.5–6 × (1–)1.5–2.5 mm;
hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.;
sepals 3.5–7(–9) mm, apex acute;
petals 6–12 × 5–9 mm;
filaments (1.5–)2–3(–4) mm, anthers 0.7–1.2 mm;
carpels (2–)5–15, styles 2.5–3.5 mm.
0.9–1.2 mm, faintly rugose.
2 mm, smooth, ± carunculate.
horizontal, irregularly thickened or moniliform, 1–8 cm.
Potentilla simplex
Potentilla hickmanii
The distinction between Potentilla simplex and P. canadensis is subtle, and the former is often misidentified as the latter; additional features to distinguish the two species are provided by M. L. Fernald (1931).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Potentilla hickmanii is known from only two extant populations in Monterey and San Mateo counties. The species is a federally listed endangered species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/050617a.pdf). Plants from Sonoma County formerly included in P. hickmanii now constitute P. uliginosa. Although some morphologic overlap occurs with P. millefolia, P. hickmanii generally differs in having less dissected leaflets occupying less of the leaf axis, as well as somewhat larger flowers bearing fewer carpels.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Go Botany
IL Wildflowers
KS Wildflowers
LA Plants
MD Biodiversity
MI Flora
MN Wildflowers
MO Plants
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
CA
