Potentilla versicolor
Potentilla robbinsiana
Steens Mountain cinquefoil, varying cinquefoil
dwarf mountain cinquefoil, Robbins' cinquefoil, White Mountains cinquefoil
prostrate to ascending, (0.7–)1.5–2.5(–4) dm, lengths 2–4(–5) times basal leaves.
spreading to erect, 0.1–0.4 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.
not in ranks, ternate, 1–2 cm;
stipules: apex broadly acute;
petiole 0.7–3 cm, long hairs sparse to abundant, spreading to subappresed, 0.2–2 mm, weak, glands sparse to common;
leaflets 3, central obovate, 0.5–1.3 × 0.2–1 cm, petiolule 0–1 mm, margins flat to ± revolute, not lobed, distal ± 2/3 evenly incised ± 1/2 to midvein, teeth 2–4(–5) per side, surfaces similar, green, hairs ± abundant (or nearly absent adaxially), 0.5–1 mm, glands sparse to common.
1–2(–3).
(1–)3–10-flowered, usually openly cymose.
1(–2)-flowered.
1–3(–5) cm, straight to slightly recurved in fruit.
straight, 0.5–3 cm, not much longer in fruit than in flower.
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 oblong to elliptic, (1.8–)2–2.5(–3) × 0.7–1.2(–1.4) mm, ± equal to sepals, margins flat to ± revolute;
hypanthium (4–)5–7 mm diam.;
sepals (1.8–)2–2.5(–3) mm, apex broadly acute;
petals yellow, 2–3 × 2–3 mm;
filaments 0.5–1 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm;
carpels 20–30, styles columnar-tapered, sometimes ± papillate-swollen in proximal 1/3–1/2, 0.8–1 mm.
1.5–1.8 mm, smooth to faintly rugose, not carunculate.
1–1.3 mm.
= 49.
Potentilla versicolor
Potentilla robbinsiana
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 robbinsiana is known only from two sites in the White Mountains, Monroe County, New Hampshire, and is reported in Vermont. Additional populations have been established nearby as a result of transplant efforts. Listed in 1980 as a federally endangered species, an intense recovery program resulted in the species being delisted in 2002.
Some early specimens were distributed as Potentilla frigida Villars, a similar European species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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