Potentilla gracilis var. gracilis

Common names Slender cinquefoil

Abbreviation code POGR

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae
• (unranked): Angiosperms
• (unranked): Eudicots
• Order: Rosales
• Family: Rosaceae
• Subfamily: Rosoideae
• Genus: Potentilla
• Species: P. gracilis

Description

General: Highly variable perennial from a branched crown, the several ascending or erect stems 4-8 dm. tall.

Leaves: Basal leaves numerous, with petioles to 3 dm. long, palmately divided; the leaflets 7-9, broadly oblanceolate to oblong-elliptic, varying from glabrous and green on both surfaces to hairy above and white-woolly below, toothed to deeply dissected; cauline leaves 1-2, reduced; stipules up to 2.5 cm. long, entire to lacerate.

Flowers: Inflorescence large, many-flowered, open, somewhat flat-topped; calyx 6-10 mm. broad, the 5 lobes 4-10 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, the alternating bracteoles narrowly lanceolate, nearly as long; petals 5, yellow, obcordate, longer than the sepals; stamens 20; pistils numerous, the style slender, sub-terminal on the achene and the same length.

Fruit: Achene 1.5-2 mm. long, smooth, greenish.

Bloom Period

July - Aug

Distribution

Alaska south to California, east to Saskatchewan and the Dakotas.

Habitat

Varied habitats; moderately saline soil, grasslands, moist areas in shrub-steppe, forested mountains and subalpine meadows. Medium to coarse textured soil Shade intolerant

Uses

Wildlife: Medium palatability for browsing and grazing animals.

First Nations: Infusion of pounded roots taken for diarrhea, for aches and pains, as a blood tonic, for gonorrhea and used to wash sores; poultice of mashed leaves, roots and subalpine fir pitch used on wounds to draw out the pain.