Potentilla versicolor
Potentilla rhyolitica
Steens Mountain cinquefoil, varying cinquefoil
prostrate to ascending, (0.7–)1.5–2.5(–4) dm, lengths 2–4(–5) times basal leaves.
0.2–2 dm.
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.
ternate, rarely palmate, 2–8(–11) cm;
petiole 1–6(–8) cm, long hairs abundant to dense, spreading to loosely appressed, 1–2(–3) mm, weak to ± stiff, glands ± abundant;
leaflets 3(–5), central obovate to broadly elliptic, 1–3 × 0.8–1.8 cm, often distinctly petiolulate, distal 1/2–2/3 of margins evenly incised ± 1/3 to midvein, teeth 2–3(–4) per side, surfaces green to gray-green, long hairs common to dense, 1 mm, glands abundant.
1–2(–3).
(1–)3–10-flowered, usually openly cymose.
1–10-flowered.
1–3(–5) cm, straight to slightly recurved in fruit.
0.5–1(–2) cm.
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 lanceolate-elliptic, 2–4 × 1 mm;
hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.;
sepals 3–5 mm, apex acute;
petals ± paler abaxially, bright yellow adaxially, ± obcordate, 3–7 × 2–5 mm;
filaments 1.5–3 mm, anthers 0.6–1 mm;
carpels 5–15, styles 2–3 mm.
1.5–1.8 mm, smooth to faintly rugose, not carunculate.
1.5–2 mm, smooth to lightly rugose.
hairs not well differentiated from long hairs, absent or sparse throughout.
Potentilla versicolor
Potentilla rhyolitica
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.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves gray-green, hairs usually dense, sometimes common; styles 2–2.5 mm; achenes 1.5 mm, smooth to lightly rugose; Santa Rita and Huachuca ranges. | var. rhyolitica |
1. Leaves green, hairs common, rarely dense; styles (2–)2.5–3 mm; achenes 2 mm, smooth; Chiricahua Range. | var. chiricahuensis |
OR
CalFlora
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
