Potentilla versicolor
Potentilla hickmanii
Steens Mountain cinquefoil, varying cinquefoil
Hickman's cinquefoil
prostrate to ascending, (0.7–)1.5–2.5(–4) dm, lengths 2–4(–5) times basal leaves.
usually prostrate to decumbent, sometimes ± ascending in supporting vegetation, 0.5–2.5 dm, lengths 1–2 times basal leaves.
pinnate with distal leaflets ± confluent, 4–12 × 1–2.5(–3.5) cm;
petiole 1–3 cm, straight hairs absent (on early-season petioles) or sparse to common, spreading-ascending to loosely appressed, 1–2 mm, soft, cottony hairs usually absent, glands sparse;
primary lateral leaflets 3–5 per side, on distal (1/3–)1/2–2/3 of leaf axis, overlapping, largest ones cuneate to flabellate, 0.5–1.5(–2) × 0.5–1.5 cm, distal 3/4 to whole margin unevenly incised 2/3 to completely to midvein (blade often medially split as well), ultimate teeth or segments 2–5(–8), ± oblanceolate, 3–11 × 1–3 mm, apical tufts to 1 mm, surfaces green to grayish green, not glaucous, straight hairs sparse to common (sparser adaxially), sometimes absent (except on margins), loosely appressed to ascending, 1–2 mm, soft, cottony hairs absent, glands sparse to common.
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.
1–2(–3).
2.
(1–)3–10-flowered, usually openly cymose.
2–5-flowered, very openly cymose, sometimes racemiform.
1–3(–5) cm, straight to slightly recurved in fruit.
1–2(–4) cm, ± recurved in fruit.
epicalyx bractlets lanceolate to elliptic, rarely ovate, 2–5 × 1–2 mm, sometimes apically toothed;
hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.;
sepals 4–7 mm, apex acute;
petals 4–7 × 3–5.5 mm;
filaments (1–)1.5–2.5 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm;
carpels 10–25, styles 2 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.
1.5–1.8 mm, smooth to faintly rugose, not carunculate.
2 mm, smooth, ± carunculate.
Potentilla versicolor
Potentilla hickmanii
Potentilla versicolor is most common on Steens Mountain in Harney County, Oregon. Collections are known from other mountain ranges in eastern Oregon (some possibly representing distinct taxa) and from near Island Lake in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada. The species often grows and, apparently, intergrades with P. breweri; it is usually distinct in its lack of cottony hairs. Petals, filaments, and styles tend to be somewhat shorter in P. versicolor than in P. breweri. Collections of P. versicolor have most often been identified as P. breweri, P. millefolia, or P. ovina.
(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.)
OR
CalFlora
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
