Flower ID: IMG_3761.JPG-05-29-2020 Flower name (scientific): Potentilla simplex André Michaux PY: 1803. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) po-ten-TIL-ah SIM-plex Flower name (common): Common 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: Undivided, entire, single, unbranched. Common name origin: 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: 0.3 to 0.5 inches (0.8 to 1.3 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 2 to 12 inches (5 to 30 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound Size: Leaflets up to 5 to 7.5 cm long and 2 to 2.5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, palmate (IL), leaflets, narrowly elliptic to obovate (FNA), narrowly ovate (but with blunt tips), obovate, or oblanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, fields, meadows, woods, forest openings, streambanks, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun or part shade, mesic to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The characteristics to look for to distinguish Potentilla simplex from some of the other Potentilla species, are sepals shorter than the petals, flower width about 13 mm, and the adaxial and usually the abaxial leaf surfaces are green. The latter characteristic helps differentiate this P. simplex from Potentilla argentea (Silver Cinquefoil) and Potentilla pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Cinquefoil), which both have white abaxial leaf surfaces. P. pensylvanica has not been reported from Wisconsin, Michigan, or Illinois, but has been found in Minnesota and Iowa. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee used the plant to treat dysentery, for fevers, and as a pulmonary aid (Moerman, p. 435, 1998). Latitude: 44.796293 Longitude: -91.513555 Altitude: 278.00 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) 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