Blue Mountains

Ecoregion

Marti Aitken and 

Catherine Gray Parks

Report

PNW-GTR-603

April 2004
Authors

Marti Aitken is a botanist and geographer, and Catherine Gray Parks is

a research plant pathologist, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory,

1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 97850. 
Guide to the 

Common Potentilla Species 

of the

Blue Mountains Ecoregion

Marti Aitken and Catherine Gray Parks

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Portland, Oregon

General Technical Report PNW-GTR-603

April 2004
found in the Blue Mountains region. Many species formerly classified in

the genus Potentilla are also included. Illustrations accompany the descriptions and glossary.

Keywords: Potentilla, plant key, Blue Mountains. 
This guide will help in the field identification of Potentilla species likely

to be found throughout the Blue Mountains region, especially when

flowers are not available. Many of the distinguishing features may require

magnification to be seen. A 10X hand lens is usually sufficient. Unless

otherwise noted, characteristics are based on mature structures (e.g., a

mature leaf, not a newly emergent leaf). The genus Potentilla is well

known for its difficulties in identification owing to hybridization and

apomictic reproduction (seed production without fertilization) of some

species. Determinations should always be confirmed by comparison with

herbarium material and full descriptions, which can be found in the literature cited below. 

This booklet consists of two main sections and an illustrated glossary.

The first section is a dichotomous key with illustrations of identifying

features. The illustrations are intended to highlight features of a particular species and to clarify terminology used in the key. No scale is implied.

Illustration numbers correspond to leads in the key. The second section is

organized alphabetically by taxa and consists of pictures, descriptions,

and notes about each taxon. Most of the illustrations have been selected

or modified from Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977) and from Harris and

Harris (2001). Species descriptions are based primarily on Hitchcock and

Cronquist (1977). 

1
English Equivalents

1 millimeter (mm) = 0.0394 inch

1 centimeter (cm) = 0.394 inch

1 decimeter (dm) = 3.94 inch

1 meter (m) = 3.28 feet

References

Harris, J.G.; Harris, M.E. 2001. Plant identification terminology: an 

illustrated guide. Payson, UT: Spring Lake Publishing. 206 p.

Hitchcock, C.L.; Cronquist, A. 1977. Part 3: Saxifragaceae to Ericaceae. 

In: Flora of the Pacific Northwest. 3rd ed. Seattle, WA: University of 

Washington Press: 126-157.

Hitchcock, C.L.; Cronquist, A. 1998. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: 

an illustrated manual. 11th ed. Seattle, WA: University of 

Washington Press. 730 p. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service [USDA NRCS]. 2002. The plants database, version 3.5. 

Baton Rouge, LA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov. 

(10 December 2003).

2
and Maury Ranges as well as the Blue, Ochoco, and Wallowa Mountains.

Ecosystems in the region include ponderosa shrub forests, western ponderosa forests, Douglas-fir forests, grand fir-Douglas-fir forests, western

spruce-fir forests, juniper steppe woodland, mountain mahogany-oak

scrub, Great Basin sagebrush, wheatgrass-bluegrass, alpine meadows and

barrens, and sagebrush steppe. Among the plants of the Blue Mountains

forests and grasslands are Potentilla, ancient members of the rose family

that have evolved to survive the elevation, moisture, and temperature 

extremes of this region.

Most of the 23 Potentilla (or former Potentilla) species in the Blue

Mountains ecoregion are annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. The one

exception is the shrub Dasiphora floribunda, a former Potentilla species.

Typically the Potentilla species in this area have a scaly caudex, a taproot,

and well-developed, pinnately or digitately compound leaves. The margins of the leaflets are serrate, toothed, or dissected, but rarely entire. 

The inflorescences are usually cymose or rarely of solitary axillary flowers.

Each flower consists of three whorls of nonreproductive structures

(bractlets, sepals, and petals), which are fused at the base into a disk- or

cup-shaped extension of the floral axis (fig. 1). Five bractlets form the

outermost whorl. The middle whorl consists of five sepals that are usually

larger than the bractlets. The 

innermost whorl consists of five

deciduous petals that are most

often yellow, but sometimes white.

Petal shape varies from obovate to

almost circular, or notched at the

apex. A disk usually lines the

fused structure. 

3

Figure 1–Cross section of Potentilla flower.
4

more than 10) and are attached on a conical or hemispherical receptacle.

The style is deciduous and may be attached terminally, laterally, or basally.

The fruit consists of numerous, smooth to wrinkled or net-veined achenes.

Collectively, members of Potentilla are commonly referred to as “cinquefoils.” Cinquefoil gets its name from an old French word meaning “fiveleaf.” The Latin name Potentilla refers to the medicinal potency of the

herb. Cinquefoil’s medicinal value was recognized by a Greek naturalist

and student of Aristotle, Theophrastus, who was the first to describe it

and claimed its ability to cure fevers and diarrhea. Also, cinquefoil was

reputedly an ingredient in many spells in the Middle Ages, and reportedly was used also in love divinations. It was one of the ingredients of a

special bait for fishing nets that would ensure a large catch.

Little is known of the role that Potentilla performs in the complex ecology

of the Blue Mountains, although many members of the rose family are

noted as important food sources for wildlife. One species of particular 

interest is Potentilla recta (page 41). A native of Eurasia, Potentilla recta

(sulfur cinquefoil) is found in central and southern Europe, the Middle

East, the mountains of north Africa, and western and central Asia.

Potentilla recta was introduced to North America prior to 1900. In eastern

North America, P. recta is considered to be primarily a minor agricultural

weed. However, in the last two decades, P. recta has been recognized as

having a broad ecological amplitude in the drier climates of northwestern

North America where it forms dense populations and is considered a

threat to native plant communities. 

Infestations of P. recta have been detected in several locations in the Blue

Mountains. Roadsides, waste places, abandoned agriculture fields,

clearcuts, and other disturbed sites are particularly susceptible to invasion

by P. recta, but some low-disturbance sites also are susceptible, including
Control of this invasive nonnative plant is hindered because it often is

confused with native cinquefoils that are found in the Northwest.

Potentilla recta has three unique characteristics: (1) long, right-angled

hairs perpendicular to the leafstalks and stem, (2) numerous stem leaves

but few basal leaves, and (3) a netlike pattern on the seed coat. Although

varietal treatments exceed the scope of this publication, we have included

varieties of P. gracilis because of the similarities to P. recta.

5
3a Basal leaves with 3 leaflets ........................................14, GROUP II

3b Basal leaves with at least 5 leaflets ............................20, GROUP III

GROUP I: Leaves pinnate

4a Plants spreading by long, freely rooting stolons (strawberry-like), 

or by rhizomes ................................................................................5

4b Plants from rootstock or other and not spreading by stolons or 

rhizomes .........................................................................................6

5a Plants spreading by rhizomes and rooting at the nodes; stems 

reddish; leaves light green; lower surface of leaves paler, glaucous,

and variously pubescent; leaflets 5-7; flowers red to purple 

.............................................................................Comarum palustre

5b Plants spreading by stolons, not rooting at the nodes; stems and

leaves generally silvery gray with spreading silky hairs; upper leaf 

surface grayish to green, lower leaf surface whitish; leaflets 15-25; 

flowers yellow .......................................................Argentina anserina

6a Leaves and forestem glandular, or with glandular hairs (may only be 

visible with magnification)..............................................................7

6

2a 2b

Harris and Harris (2001)
7a Leaflets 3-5 (rarely 7), each 6-10 mm long and congested so that, 

when laid flat, the leaflets overlap; basal leaf petioles usually much 

longer than the blade ......................................................P. brevifolia

7b Leaflets 5-11, each 1-4 cm long and not congested, although 

leaflets may be crowded together; petiole usually shorter than 

the blade .........................................................................................8

8a Mature plants mostly >4 dm tall; stems very pilose, or villous, 

often with multicelled, moniliform, brownish hairs that may give

the stem a dirty appearance, especially near the top; leaves sometimes almost hairless to very hirsute; leaflets 5-11; inflorescence 

narrow and erect; sepals mostly 6-8 mm; petals usually as long as 

or longer than the sepals......................................................P. arguta

8b Mature plants mostly <4 dm; stems may be hairless to densely 

pilose-glandular; leaves sometimes hairless, glandular-pubescent to 

short-hirsute and only weakly glandular; leaflets 5-9; inflorescence 

open; sepals <6 mm long; petals sometimes shorter than the sepals 

......................................................................................P. glandulosa

7

6a

7a 7b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

Harris and Harris (2001)
9a Leaflets numerous (7-21), usually crowded along rachis, and 

pinnately dissected into small (usually <1 cm long) segments; 

plants prostrate, decumbent, or ascending ..............................10

9b Leaflets few (5-13), and deeply cleft, but neither dissected into 

small segments nor crowded; plants upright and generally erect ...11

10a Leaves mostly cauline, few basal; leaflets 7-15, each 3-5 mm 

long, divided nearly to midrib into 3-7 unequal linear to 

elliptic segments; plants of dry lakeshores and vernal pools 

......................................................................................P. newberryi

10b Leaves mostly basal; leaflets 9-21, each 5-12 mm long, pedately 

divided nearly to base into 3-5 (rarely 7) linear segments; plants 

of moist meadows to open ridges and barren slopes.............P. ovina

11a Leaflets toothed, but not deeply cleft; plant from a simple

taproot.......................................................................P. paradoxa

8

8a 8b

10a 10b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
9

12a Leaves greenish on both surfaces, variously pubescent; leaflets 

obovate-cuneate, the upper three often confluent; leaflet 

margins cleft about halfway to midvein into linear or

lanceolate teeth ..........................................................P. drummondii

12b Leaves grayish throughout or greenish on upper surface and 

white on lower surface, very pubescent; leaflets oblong, 

oblong-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, upper three not confluent .....13

13a Leaflets 5-9, irregularly lobed 1

⁄2 to 4⁄5 of the distance to midrib 

into linear, forward-pointing segments; lower leaflets often 

reduced and upper three largest; upper surfaces of leaves usually

greenish, lower surfaces usually whitish ......................P. pensylvanica

13b Leaflets sharply lanceolately toothed to midvein; upper and lower 

leaflets similarly sized; upper surfaces of leaves greenish or grayish, 

lower surfaces usually grayish...........................................P. hippiana

11a 12a

13a 13b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
15a Pubescence on lower surfaces of leaflets with a mixture of fine,

spreading hairs and thicker (often darker) glandular hairs; upper 

surface with short stiff hairs......................................... P. biennis

15b Pubescence on lower leaf surfaces not a mixture of fine and thick 

hairs, and not glandular; pubescence on upper surface various, 

but not of short stiff hairs.................................................. 16

16a Lower surface of leaflets with coarse, stiff hairs; and upper surfaces

with somewhat short, soft, woolly hairs; larger hairs often with 

small blisters at the base ..................................................P. norvegica

16b Lower and upper surfaces of leaflets densely covered with fine 

hairs, spreading or pressed flat against the surface areas........P. rivalis

17a Leaves equally or almost equally green on both surfaces, 

puberulent or with irregularly curled or crooked hairs (especially 

on upper plant); petioles usually 2 to 3 times as long as blade; 

plant 15-25 cm tall.......................................................P. flabellifolia

10

15a 16a 16b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
18a Stems, calyx, and lower surface of leaves usually woolly; leaflets

leathery, dark grayish-green above and prominently veined 

beneath, the surface covered with short, soft woolly hairs....P. villosa

18b Stems, calyx, and lower surface of leaves variously pubescent, and 

if woolly, then leaflets not leathery and not prominently veined 

beneath .........................................................................................19

19a Petioles and lower stem tomentose; upper surface of leaves often

strigose; leaflets 5-15 mm, oblong-obovate to more or less oval 

.............................................................................................P. nivea

19b Petioles and lower stem pilose; upper surface of leaves hirsute; 

leaflets 10-20 mm, cuneate-obovate to obovate-rhombic......P. uniflora

11

17a 18a 

19a 19b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
21a Leaflets toothed less than halfway to midvein; lower surface of 

leaves densely white-tomentose ...................................P. pulcherrima

21b Leaflets toothed at least halfway to the midvein; both leaf surfaces

greenish and hirsute ...................................P. gracilis var. brunnescens

22a Leaves mostly cauline....................................................................23

22b Leaves mostly basal .......................................................................24

23a Leaves mostly oriented upright; leaf surfaces more or less equally

green; leaflets 5-7, each 3-7 cm, often folded along the prominent

midveins; leaflet margins serrate-lobate with divergent, forwardpointing teeth extending about halfway to midvein, not revolute; 

pubescence on leaves and stems stiff, spreading nearly 

perpendicular to surface, and often somewhat sparkly; length 

of stem hairs almost equal to stem width ...............................P. recta 

12

20a 

21a 21b

Harris and Harris (2001)

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
24a Plant a tall (1-4 dm) somewhat rangy annual or biennial.....P. rivalis

24b Plant size various, but always perennial.........................................25

25a Leaflets 5-7, each 1-3 cm; plant up to 4.5 dm tall ........................26

25b Leaflets 7-9, each 3-8 cm; plants 4-8 dm tall ................................27

13

23a 23b

24a 26a 26b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
few-toothed at the tip ......................................................P. concinna

27a Leaflets dissected 2⁄3 of the way to midvein into linear segments; 

leaf undersurface grayish and hairy ...............................................28

27b Leaflets dissected less than 2⁄3 of the way to midvein into

lanceolate lobes, leaf undersurface greenish ...................................29

28a Leaflets greenish above, white-tomentose beneath; margins often 

revolute ....................................................P. gracilis var. flabelliformis

28b Leaflets grayish above, silky to tomentose beneath; margins not 

revolute ........................................................................P. pectinisecta

29a Leaflets often greenish and equally pubescent above and beneath 

......................................................................P. gracilis var. fastigiata

29b Leaflets variously colored, but not equally pubescent above and 

beneath .........................................................................................30

14

28a 28b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
15

30a 30b

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
Pubescence: Glabrous on lower parts of plant, but becoming more or 

less hairy and purplish-glandular above. 

Flowers: Solitary at the stolon nodes; calyx silky; sepals ovate-triangular, 

4-6 mm; petals yellow and rounded, 8-12 mm; May-Aug.

Habitat: Meadows, streambanks, and pond margins.

Notes: Native; spreads by long freely rooting stolons; leaf pubescence is 

highly variable. This is an obiligate wetland species in Idaho, Oregon, 

and Washington.

Synonymy: Argentina anserina (L.) Rydb. var. concolor (Ser.) Rydb.; 

A. argentea (L.) Rydb.; Potentilla anserina L.; P. anserina L. var. 

concolor Ser.; P. anserina L. var. sericea Hayne; P. anserina L. var. 

yukonensis (Hultén) Boivin; P. egedii Wormsk. ssp. yukonensis (Hultén) 

Hultén; P. yukonensis Hultén. 

16

Modified from Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
copiously whitish-strigose to appressed silky pubescence; leaflets 3-6 cm,

obovate to oblong or narrowly elliptic-oblong; leaflet margins shallowly

crenate-serrate to deeply serrate. 

Pubescence: Glabrous on lower parts of plant, but becoming more or 

less hairy and purplish-glandular above. 

Flowers: Deep red to purple, usually numerous in open, one-sided 

cymes; June-Aug.

Habitat: Wet areas such as bogs, meadows, creek banks, and lake 

margins, from sea level to subalpine areas. 

Notes: Native. This is an obligate wetland species in Idaho, Oregon, and 

Washington. Although substantial variation occurs, geographic races 

have not been differentiated.

Synonymy: Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop.; P. palustris (L.) Scop. var. 

parvifolia (Raf.) Fern. & Long; P. palustris (L.) Scop. var. villosa

(Pers.) Lehm. 

17

Modified from Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
10-20 mm long, linear to narrowly elliptic-oblong, entire, often 

revolute margined; appressed silky and more or less grayish, especially 

on lower surface of leaves.

Pubescence: New growth silky-pilose, becoming glabrate with maturity. 

Flowers: Either single in leaf axils or in small open terminal cymes with 

3-7 flowers; petals yellow, oval to ovate-oblong 8-13 mm. June-Aug.

Habitat: Lower foothills to subalpine slopes.

Notes: Native. Now recognized as member of the genus Dasiphora, it 

is still widely referred to as a Potentilla and has been included in this 

treatment for that reason. This species is a facultative wetland 

species in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Numerous horticultural 

variants exist.

Synonyms: Dasiphora fruticosa auct. non (L.) Rydb.; Pentaphylloides 

floribunda (Pursh) A. Löve nom. super.; Pentaphylloides fruticosa auct. 

non (L.) O. Schwarz; Potentilla floribunda Pursh; P. fruticosa auct. non 

L.; P. fruitcosa L. ssp. floribunda (Pursh) Elkington; P. fruitcosa L. var. 

tenuifolia Lehm.

18

Modified from Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
with lobate-serrate margins 

extending 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 of the way to 

the midvein, and more or less 

revolutely margined teeth. 

Pubescence: Mixture of tomentum

and silky to stiff hairs. 

Flowers: Yellow, obovate-cuneate 

petals, rounded to somewhat 

notched at the apex; equaling 

or slightly exceeding the sepals; 

sepals 2-3 mm; June-July. 

Habitat: Scattered localities 

including ponderosa pine 

forests and gravelly river banks.

Notes: Introduced from Europe. 

Similar to P. recta in presence 

of cauline leaves, but herbage 

is grayish and usually 

tomentose. P. argentea is

typically a smaller plant. 

Synonymy: None.

19

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
Pubescence: Stems strongly pilose or villous with multicellular 

moniliform glandular, brownish hairs; leaves, short-hirsute to 

glandular-puberulent to hairless.

Flowers: Inflorescence narrow; petals range from creamy-white to yellow,

and may be subequal to or up to 2 mm longer than the large (6-8 mm)

sepals; May-July. 

Habitat: Widespread. 

Notes: This species can sometimes be indistinguishable from 

P. glandulosa. Generally, the tall growth habit and the narrow 

inflorescence with large sepals, make this species fairly distinctive. 

There are two varieties: convallaria, which occurs throughout the 

tri-state area, and arguta, which occurs in Idaho.

Synonymy: None.

20
21

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
reduced upward; ternate 

(although sometimes 4 or 5 

leaflets), obovate to oblanceolate, coarsely crenate-serrate, 

1-4 cm. 

Pubescence: Mixture of fine, 

slender, spreading to somewhat 

tomentose hairs and thicker, 

multicellular, glandular hairs. 

Flowers: Glandular-puberulent; 

sepals erect, ovate triangular; 

petals yellow, cuneate-obovate 

and about half the sepal length;

May-Aug. 

Habitat: Disturbed areas such as 

roadsides. Also in moist sandy 

sites and in moist meadows. 

Notes: Native. P. biennis is a 

facultative wetland species in 

this region.

Synonymy: None. 

22

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
blade; leaflets 5 (sometimes 3 or 7), crowded, each 6-10 mm, generally

orbicular, crenate, and shallowly incised 1 or 2 times. 

Pubescence: Finely glandular-puberulent, often glabrous but occasionally

sparsely pilose near top of plant.

Flowers: Numerous open, branched cymes; sepals 3-5 mm oval to 

oblong-lanceolate, spreading to slightly ascending; petals yellow, 

broadly obovate and spreading, 2-3 mm longer than sepals; July-Aug. 

Habitat: High mountains. 

Notes: Native. 

Synonymy: None.

23

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
upper surface tomentose and sericeous or hirsute, to merely strigose or 

hirsute and grayish to pale green; leaflet margins from deeply cleft into

linear segments to shallowly few-toothed at the tip. 

Pubescence: Copiously hirsute-strigose and more or less grayish, to 

sparsely strigose and greenish.

Flowers: Small cymes of 3-7 flowers; sepals sericeous-villous and 

lanceolate, 3-6 mm; petals yellow, obovate, 6-9 mm; May-July.

Habitat: Sandy prairies and foothills to alpine ridges. 

Notes: Native. Several intergradient varieties. Primarily in Idaho portion 

of the Blue Mountains region. 

Synonymy: None at species level. 

24

var. divisa

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

var. concinna
Leaves: Mostly basal; digitate to 

subdigitate; leaflets 5-7, 

oblanceolate to broadly obovate,

1-3 cm, margins shallowly 

triangular-toothed to 

dissected into linear segments. 

Pubescence: Varies from sparsely 

hirsute-strigose and greenish to 

grayish sericeous. 

Flowers: Open cymes with many 

yellow flowers; sepals

triangular-lanceolate, 4-6 mm; 

petals obcordate, 6-9 mm.

Habitat: Streambanks in montane

to subalpine habitats; alpine 

meadows, ledges and rocky slopes.

Notes: Native. May be confused 

with P. concinna, but lacks 

tomentose pubescence on leaf 

undersurface. As the name 

suggests, this species is 

highly variable, especially in 

leaf characteristics. Two 

varieties, perdissecta and 

diversifolia may occur in the 

Blue Mountains region. 

For a discussion of the variability

and treatment of the varieties, 

see Hitchcock and Cronquist 

(1977, 1998). 

Synonymy: None at species level.

25

var. perdissecta

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

var. diversifolia
(sometimes 11) closely 

crowded, obovate-cuneate, 

2-5 cm, with the upper ones 

often confluent; leaflet margins 

cleft about halfway to midvein 

into linear or lanceolate teeth. 

Pubescence: From slightly to 

copiously hirsute-strigose, but 

always greenish; often glabrate.

Flowers: Open, many-flowered 

cymes; sepals ovate, sparingly 

hirsute; petals yellow, obovate, 

to obcordate 6-11 mm;

June-Aug.

Habitat: Subalpine to alpine wet 

meadows and open slopes. 

Notes: Native. It is thought to be 

sympatric with and transitional

to both P. breweri and P. ovina

in southeast Oregon (Hitchcock

and Cronquist 1977).

Synonymy: None.

26

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
obovate to flabelliform, 1.5-2.5 cm; leaflet margins deeply crenatedentate and often secondarily toothed. 

Pubescence: Subglabrous to moderately puberulent or with irregularly 

curled, crooked hairs on upper plant.

Flowers: Few-flowered cymes; sepals deltoid-lanceolate; petals yellow, 

obcordate, up to 10 mm; June-Aug.

Habitat: Wet meadows and streambanks to alpine or subalpine ridges 

and talus slopes.

Notes: Native. 

Synonymy: None.

27

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
Pubescence: On stems varies from glabrous on lower plant to glandularpuberulent and hirsute to densely piloseglandular throughout; on 

leaves varies from hairless to short-hirsute to glandular pubescent; hairs

from 1-celled to moniliform. 

Flowers: Few-flowered, cyme; petals vary from dark to pale yellow 

(almost white), generally shorter to somewhat longer than sepals; 

May-July.

Habitat: Common. 

Notes: Native. This species is highly variable and has numerous

intergradient geographical races. Treatment of these races exceeds 

the scope of this publication, but can be found in Hitchcock and 

Cronquist (1977, 1998). The most common subspecies for this 

area are glabrata (formerly var. intermedia), glandulosa, nevadensis,

and pseudorupestris. In addition, P. glandulosa is easily confused with 

P. arguta. It is most easily distinguished by its relatively open 

inflorescence and generally smaller size.

Synonymy: None at the species level.

28
29

var. reflexa

var. nevadensis

var. glandulosa

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)

var. glabrata var. pseudorupestris
glandular (var. brunnescens); leaflets 7-9, cuneate-oblanceolate to 

broadly oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic, usually 3-8 cm long (sometimes 2-12); leaflet margins crenate-dentate to very deeply dissected. 

Pubescence: Usually strigose or minutely strigose, but varies from 

spreading-hirsute to puberulent to woolly.

Flowers: Open, many flowered cyme; sepals broadly lanceolate 4-7 mm, 

often glandular; petals yellow, obcordate 6-10 mm; June-Aug.

Habitat: Dry to moist meadows, grasslands, rocky slopes, open forests.

Notes: Native. The species is highly variable and taxonomic treatment is 

difficult. The four varieties that occur in the Blue Mountains are 

identified in the illustration. Potentilla gracilis may be confused with 

other species such as P. pectinisecta, P. pulcherrima, and P. recta. Both 

P. pectinisecta and P. pulcherrima were once treated as varieties of

P. gracilis. Potentilla pectinisecta has leaflets lobed at least 2

⁄3 of the way to

the midvein, like P. gracilis var. flabelliformis. However, the leaf undersurface of P. gracilis var. flabelliformis is white-tomentose below and the

upper surface is green, whereas the undersurface of P. pectinisecta is 

silky to tomentose, and the upper surface is grayish sericeous. Potentilla

pulcherrima is also white-tomentose on the leaf undersurfaces, with 

teeth extending 1

⁄5 to 2⁄3 of the way to the midvein. Potentilla recta has 

numerous cauline leaves, and the pubescence is at nearly right angles 

to the surface. 

Synonymy: At the species level, there are none. Synonymy occurs only 

at varietal level. Synonyms for Potentilla gracilis Dougl. ex Hook. var. 

fastigiata (Nutt.) S. Wats. are as follows:

P. gracilis Dougl. ex Hook. var. blasckeana (Turcz. ex Lehm.) Jepson; 

P. gracilis Dougl. ex Hook. var. glabrata (Lehm.) C.L. Hitchc.; 

P. gracilis Dougl. ex Hook. ssp. nuttallii (Lehm.) Keck; P. gracilis

Dougl. ex Hook. var. nuttallii (Lehm.) Sheldon; P. gracilis Dougl. ex 

Hook. var. permollis (Rydb.) C.L. Hitchc.; P. gracilis Dougl. ex

Hook. var. rigida S. Wats.

30
31

var. gracilis

var. flabelliformis

var. permollis

var. brunnescens

var. glabrata

calyx, 

bracteoles, 

and lobes

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
Leaves: Grayish below, grayish or greenish above; pinnate; leaflets 7-11, 

crowded, oblong or oblong-oblanceolate, 2-5 cm; leaflet margins 

sharply lanceolate-toothed up to halfway to midvein. 

Pubescence: Grayish-hirsute and tomentose throughout, eglandular.

Flowers: Freely branching cyme with ascending branches; sepals grayishtomentose and hirsute, slightly shorter than petals; petals yellow, 

narrowly obovate, rounded (often with a shallow notch), 5-7 mm.

Habitat: Open grassland, sagebrush, juniper scabland, and ponderosa 

pine forests. 

Notes: Native. This species is highly variable in size, color, pubescence, 

and flower size. 

Synonymy: None. 

32

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
spatulate segments, each 3-5 (7) mm long. 

Pubescence: Grayish-silky to hirsute.

Flowers: Fragrant, generally hidden by foliage; sepals lanceolate 4-5 mm;

petals cream or white, obovate, rounded to slightly notched at the apex

or obcordate, 5-6 mm; Apr.-July.

Habitat: Dry lake shores, vernal pools, water holes. 

Notes: Native. This is an obligate wetland species in this region. 

Synonymy: None. 

33

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
Pubescence: Grayish-tomentose throughout except for greenish, 

strigose-hirsute upper surface of leaves.

Flowers: Varies from few flowered (1-2) and contracted, to a manyflowered (3-9), open inflorescence; sepals lanceolate (3-4 mm), silky to

somewhat tomentose; petals yellow, obcordate, and 1-2 mm longer 

than sepals; June-Aug. 

Habitat: Alpine slopes and meadows.

Notes: Native. This species has variable pubescence, leaf size, flower size, 

and general growth characteristics. 

Synonymy: None. 

34

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
(rarely 5-foliate); leaflets 

broadly ovate to obovate on 

lower plant, to narrowly oblong

on upper plant, usually 3-6 cm,

spreading- to appressed-hirsute.

Margins crenate-serrate.

Pubescence: Strongly hirsute on 

lower plant to subtomentose on

upper plant; eglandular; large 

hairs often with small pustules 

at the base.

Flowers: Long-pedunculate 

compact cymes. Sepals broadly 

lanceolate, strigose to hirsute, 

eglandular to glandular puberulent. Petals yellow, broadly 

obovate and often notched at 

the apex, from 3

⁄4 to as long as 

the sepals; May-Aug. 

Habitat: Widespread but 

occasional. Usually on moist 

soils and waste places.

Notes: Questionably native in 

this area. 

Synonymy: None. 

35

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
sometimes crowded, 5-12 mm, pedately divided nearly to base into 

3-5 (7) linear segments; lower surface of leaves often grayish.

Pubescence: Mostly sericeous-hirsute, occasionally with (irregularly) 

curled, or crooked hairs.

Flowers: Open, spreading to ascending cymes with 3-7 flowers; sepals 

acutely to acuminately lanceolate, 3.5-5 mm; petals yellow, obcordate, 

1-2 mm longer than the sepals.

Habitat: Moist meadows to open ridges, barren slopes, from montane to 

alpine zones.

Notes: Native. Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977) note that the species 

varies considerably in the number and degree of leaflet dissections, as 

well as general pubescence. 

Synonymy: None.

36

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
2-4 (sometimes 5) pairs of 

elliptic to oblong leaflets, 

crenate-serrate, 1-3 cm; terminal 

leaflets sometimes confluent; 

upper leaves sometimes ternate.

Pubescence: Glabrous on lower 

plant to strongly hirsute above. 

Flowers: Sepals ovate-triangular, 

3-4 mm, hirsute; petals yellow, 

obovate, and subequal to the 

sepals; June-July.

Habitat: Sandy streambanks, lake

shores, moist flats.

Notes: Native. Uncommon in 

this region. This is a facultative 

wetland species. It is listed as 

threatened in Michigan and 

Ohio, and as endangered in 

New York and Pennsylvania.

Synonymy: Potentilla nicolletii

(S. Wats.) Sheldon; P. supina L.

ssp. paradoxa (Nutt.) Soják.

37

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
5-9, lanceolate to oblong-elliptic,

2-8 cm; leaflet margins 

dissected at least 2⁄3 of the 

way to midvein into linear or 

narrowly lanceolate segments; 

upper surface greenish, lower 

surface grayish-green sericeous; 

petioles 5-10 cm.

Pubescence: Appressed to 

spreading hairy. 

Flowers: Open, many-flowered 

inflorescence; sepals broadly 

lanceolate, hairy; petals yellow, 

obcordate, 5-8 mm; June-Aug.

Habitat: Montane; dry to moist 

meadows, grasslands, rocky 

slopes, open forests, roadsides, 

and waste places. 

Notes: Native. This species is 

easily confused with P. gracilis

var. flabelliformis, which has 

white-tomentose leaf undersurfaces, revolute margins, and 

long petioles (10-25 cm).

Synonymy: Potentilla gracilis

Dougl. ex Hook. var. elmeri

(Rydb.) Jepson.

38

Modified from Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
laciniately lobed ⁄2 to ⁄5 of the way to the midrib into linear segments 

oriented toward the leaflet tip.

Pubescence: Sparsely to thickly pubescent, usually tomentose.

Flowers: Several-flowered narrow cymes; sepals triangular-lanceolate, 

grayish-strigose-tomentose and more or less glandular, about 5 mm; 

petals yellow and about as long as the sepals; June-Aug. 

Habitat: Grasslands, sagebrush plains, montane ridges.

Notes: Native. This species is listed as threatened in Iowa and Michigan.

Synonymy: None.

39

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
5-9, lanceolate to oblong-elliptic,

2-8 cm; leaflet margins evenly 

toothed 1⁄5 to 1⁄2 of the way to 

midvein; upper surfaces 

greenish and spreading hairy, 

lower surface densely white 

tomentose.

Pubescence: Appressed to 

spreading hairy. 

Flowers: Open, many-flowered 

inflorescence; sepals broadly 

lanceolate, hairy; petals yellow, 

obcordate, 6-10 mm; June-Aug.

Habitat: Montane; dry to moist 

meadows, grasslands, rocky 

slopes, open forests, roadsides, 

and waste places. 

Notes: Native. This species is 

freely transitional to P. gracilis

var. brunnescens in parts of 

Wyoming and Montana, where

this species also may have 

minute glandular-pubescence 

on the leaves and the calyx. 

Synonymy: Potentilla camporum

Rydb.; P. gracilis Dougl. ex 

Hook. var. pulcherrima

(Lehm.) Fern.

40

Modified from Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
oriented upright, digitate; 

leaflets 5-7, oblanceolate, 

prominently veined, 3-8 cm; 

leaflet margins serrate-lobate 

about halfway to midvein, teeth

divergent and antrose. 

Pubescence: Sparsely to copiously

hirsute to semihispid and with 

more abundant, shorter, 

spreading, sometimes glandular

pubescence; longer hairs on 

stem usually as long as stem is 

wide; hairs sometimes sparkle 

in full sun.

Flowers: Large, multiflowered 

cymes. Sepals acuminate, 

prominently veined, 5-9 mm; 

petals pale yellow, obovate, 

notched at the apex and up to 

3 mm longer than the sepals; 

June-July. 

Habitat: Disturbed areas.

Note: Introduced from Eurasia 

and now a well-established 

ruderal. Similar to P. argentea

in having cauline leaves. 

However, P. argentea is typically

smaller and covered by grayish 

tomentum. This species is 

listed as a noxious weed in 

Colorado, Montana, Wyoming,

Oregon, and Washington. 

41

Synonymy: Potentilla recta L. 

var. obscura (Nestler) W.D.J. 

Koch; P. recta L. var. pilosa

(Willd.) Ledeb.; P. recta L. var. 

sulphurea (Lam. & DC.) Peyr.

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
Pubescence: Strongly, finely pubescent, spreading to appressed, often 

almost tomentose.

Flowers: Calyx cup-shaped, 5-10 mm wide; sepals ovate-triangular 

3-4 mm; petals yellow, cuneate-obovate to broadly oblanceolate, 

rounded, 1.3-2.7 mm.; May-Sept.

Habitat: Damp soils, especially in riparian areas, and around lakes 

and ponds. 

Note: Native. This species is a facultative wetland species in the Blue 

Mountains region. 

Synonymy: None.

42

var. rivalis

var. millegrana

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
slightly tangled long silky hairs; leaflets cuneate-obovate to obovaterhombic, 1-2 cm; leaflet margins dentate-lobate about halfway to 

midvein with 7-11 ovate-lanceolate teeth.

Pubescence: Densely and variously hairy throughout.

Flowers: Cymes 1 to 2 (3) flowered; sepals lanceolate, silky to partially 

tomentose, 3-4 mm; petals yellow, 4-5 mm; June-July. 

Habitat: River bars to alpine ridges and rock crevices. 

Note: Native. Can be confused with P. nivea and P. villosa. However, 

P. nivea lacks tomentum on the petioles, and P. villosa has wider calyx 

bracteoles and larger flowers. 

Synonymy: None.

43

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
obovate to flabelliform, 1-2 cm; leaflet margins coarsely crenate-dentate

up to 1⁄3 of the way to the midvein with rounded teeth; usually 2 

cauline leaves.

Pubescence: Grayish-villous or somewhat appressed silky throughout; 

stems, calyx, and lower surfaces of the leaves usually woolly.

Flowers: Open, 2- to 5-flowered cymes; sepals triangular, 3.5-4.5 mm; 

petals yellow, obcordate, usually 5-8 mm; July-Sept. 

Habitat: Alpine ridges, talus slopes, and rock crevices. 

Note: Native.

Synonymy: P. nivea L. var. villosa (Pallas ex Pursh) Regel & Tiling.

44

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1977)
biennial–A plant that lives 2 years. Usually the plant forms a basal

rosette of leaves during the first year, then flowers, sets seed, and dies 

in the second year. 

calyx–A collective term for all the sepals of a flower.

cauline–Leaves arising from the stem above ground level.

congested–Densely crowded or clustered so that when laid flat the parts

overlap. 

cordate–Heart shaped with the notch at the point of attachment.

crenate–With rounded teeth along the margin; scalloped. 

cuneate–Triangular or wedge shaped, narrowest end at the point of 

attachment.

cyme–A flat- or round-topped inflorescence in which the terminal flower

blooms first.

45

cordate crenate cuneate

Harris and Harris (2001)
eglandular–Without glands.

facultative wetland species–A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designation

for a species with a high affinity for wetlands. In other words, if you find

a species with this designation, there is a 67- to 99-percent probability

that you are in a wetland. 

glabrate–Almost glabrous.

glabrous–Smooth, lacking hairs or glands.

glandular–Glandlike; having an appendage, protuberance, or other

structure that secretes sticky or oily substances.

glaucous–Covered with a bluish or whitish waxy bloom, such as on the

surface of a plum.

hirsute–Pubescent with coarse, stiff, upright hairs.

46

digitate glandular 

hirsute hispid laciniate

Harris and Harris (2001)

Harris and Harris (2001)
lanceolate–Lance-shaped; much longer than wide with the widest point

below the middle.

lobed–Rounded divisions or segments of the leaf that are cut less than

halfway to the midvein. 

moniliform–Necklace-like; cylindrical and constricted at regular intervals. 

ob–Prefix meaning inversion, or in a reverse direction, such as obovate. 

obligate wetland species–A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designation 

for species that almost always occur in natural conditions in wetlands. 

ovate–Egg-shaped in two-dimensional outline and attached at the broad end.

pedate–Digitately divided with the lateral two lobes cleft in two.

47

lanceolate lobed moniliform

obovate ovate pedate 

Harris and Harris (2001) Modified from Harris and Harris (2001)

Harris and Harris (2001)
pinnate–In a compound leaf, the leaflets are arranged on opposite sides

of an elongated main axis. 

puberulent–Minutely pubescent with fine short hairs.

pubescent–Having hairs of any sort.

rachis–The central axis of a compound leaf.

revolute–Having margins that are rolled back toward the underside of

the leaf. 

rhizome–A long, horizontal stem growing below ground, generally

rootlike in appearance.

48

pinnate puberulent rachis

Harris and Harris (2001) Modified from Harris and Harris (2001)



pilose

Harris and Harris (2001)
sericeous–Silky with long soft somewhat flattened hairs.

serrate–Sawlike; toothed along the margin, with the teeth pointing 

forward.

stolon–A long, horizontal stem growing above ground, forming roots at

the nodes or tip and thus producing new plants. 

strigose–Having straight, stiff, sharp hairs oriented parallel to the surface. 

sub–Prefix meaning “not quite.”

ternate–Divided into threes, such as a strawberry leaf. 

tomentose–Covered with short, matted or tangled, soft woolly hairs. 

49

ternate tomentose

Harris and Harris (2001)

g

Harris and Harris (2001)
50

Modified from Harris and Harris (2001)

villous woolly

Harris and Harris (2001)



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