Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0882.JPG-06-26-2017
Flower name (scientific): Potentilla argentea Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) po-ten-TIL-ah ar-jen-TEE-ah (or ar-JEN-te-a)
Flower name (common): Silver Cinquefoil
Family name (common): Rose
Family name (scientific): Rosaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Derived from the Latin potens, for powerful or strong, referencing the medicinal properties of some species of Potentilla.
    Specific epithet: Latin for silver or silvery, in reference to the appearance of the underside surface of the leaves.
Common name origin: From the appearance of the underside of the leaves. Cinquefoil is from the old French cinkfoil for five leaves, referring to the 5 leaflets on each compound leaf, though some species have commonly 3 leaflets.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1.0 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: Yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme
Plant description: Erect or commonly sprawling.
     Size: 1 to 20 inches (2.5 to 51 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound
     Size: Leaflets up to 3 cm long and 1 to 1.3 cm wide.
     Color: The underside (abaxial surface) of the leaves have a white or silvery appearance due to a dense covering of hairs.
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, (basal) palmate, leaflet, obovate (MBG), oblanceolate (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized.
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): June to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, fields, disturbed areas, roadsides, waste sites, sun or part shade, dry.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Potentilla argentea is readily distinguished from similar looking Potentilla species by the white abaxial (underside) leaf surface, the palmate leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets, and petals about the same size as the sepals.
Ethnobotany:
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Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU