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Rosaceae
Potentilla

not marked as a favorite taxon Potentilla canadensis Linnaeus. Common name: Running Five-fingers, Dwarf Potentilla. Phenology: Mar-May; Apr-Jun. Habitat: Woodlands, forests, fields, lawns, disturbed areas. Distribution: NS west to ON, south to GA, MS, and ne. AR.

Glossary (beta!)

Section: Potentilla.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Two varieties are sometimes distinguished (see synonymy); their distinctiveness and relative habitats and distributions are obscure. Var. canadensis is alleged to have the middle leaflet of the larger leaves 1.5-4 cm long and plants silky-pilose, the pubescence appressed or loosely ascending. Var. villosissima Fernald is alleged to have the middle leaflet of the larger leaves 3-6 cm long and plants long-villous, the pubescence loosely spreading to reflexed.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, FNA9, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, W; = n/a — Il; = Potentilla caroliniana Poir. — S; = Potentilla pumila Poir. — S13; > Potentilla canadensis L. var. canadensis — F, G, Va; > Potentilla canadensis L. var. villosissima Fernald — F, G; > Potentilla pumila Poir. — S. Basionym: Potentilla canadensis L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Potentilla canadensis - FNA9

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Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image #1 of Potentilla canadensis© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Potentilla canadensis© Bonnie Semmling, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bonnie Semmling source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Potentilla canadensis© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Potentilla canadensis© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Potentilla canadensis© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Potentilla canadensis© Steven Daniel, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Daniel source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Potentilla canadensis© jtuttle, all rights reserved, uploaded by jtuttle source | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Potentilla canadensis© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Potentilla canadensis© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Potentilla canadensis© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Potentilla canadensis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Potentilla canadensis© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: A low, creeping perennial of woodlands, forests, fields, lawns and disturbed areas.

Stems: Stems unbranched, covered with silvery silky hairs.

Leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; palmately divided into 5 wedge-shaped leaflets, these to 1 1/2 in. long each, the rounded upper half coarsely toothed; with long, silky hairs beneath and smooth to hairy above.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary, on stalks, the first arising from the axil of the first well-developed stem leaf; yellow; to 5/8 in. wide; consisting of 5 rounded petals, 5 pointed hairy sepals, and many stamens circling the yellow center.

Fruits: Fruit an aggregate of achenes.

Comments:

Height: 2-4 in.

plant sale text: Dwarf cinquefoil is a loose, low-growing ground cover that produces small yellow flowers extending from the axils of palmate leaves in the spring. Native to much of the eastern US, this species prefers dry, open soil in fields, woods and on roadsides. Dwarf cinquefoil spreads by means of vining stems and will slowly colonize an open area. An indicator species for impoverished soil, it is the perfect ground cover for tough sites! Dwarf cinquefoil is a nectar source for the grizzled skipper and is frequently visited by several species of native bees.

bloom table text:

description: A low, creeping perennial of woodlands, forests, fields, lawns and disturbed areas.

stems: Stems unbranched, covered with silvery silky hairs.

leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; palmately divided into 5 wedge-shaped leaflets, these to 1 1/2 in. long each, the rounded upper half coarsely toothed; with long, silky hairs beneath and smooth to hairy above.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary, on stalks, the first arising from the axil of the first well-developed stem leaf; yellow; to 5/8 in. wide; consisting of 5 rounded petals, 5 pointed hairy sepals, and many stamens circling the yellow center.

fruits: Fruit an aggregate of achenes.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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