Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) Linnaeus, 1753 |
Synonyms: Potentilla sulphurea, P. acutifolia, Fragaria recta, Hypargyrium rectum, Pentaphyllum rectum, Rough-fruited Cinquefoil. See The Plant List for more synonyms. |
Potentilla recta is a perennial herb native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia; introduced to North America in the 1850s, it has established throughout most on the contiguous United States and all, but the northernmost Canada. Also introduced to Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. This species is listed as invasive in much of North America, as it aggressively colonizes both natural and disturbed habitats. Sulphur Cinquefoil prefers disturbed open areas with alkaline soil, e.g., river banks, forest edges, limestone outcrops, pastures, abandoned fields, roadsides, etc. From sea level to 2,100 m. P. recta produces upright leafy stems up to 80 cm tall; the upper part is branched and densely hairy. The leaves are palmate. The inflorescence is a cyme of several flowers with five broad, shallowly-notched pale yellow petals. It flowers from May to August.
D45669 Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)* Bruce Peninsula Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved |