Potentilla norvegica (Rough Cinquefoil)

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A few flowers are clustered at the end of the main stem, and branching stems near the top of the plant. Individual flowers are yellow, about 1/3 inch across with 5 oval petals and many yellow-tipped stamens surrounding the yellow center. There are 5 green pointed-tipped sepals that are longer than the flower petals.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are compound in 3's and become progressively smaller as they ascend the stem. Leaves near the base of the plant have stems up to 4 inches long; those near the top of the plant have little or no leaf stem. Leaflets are up to 3 inches long and 1½ inch wide with a rounded tip, tapering at the base, and coarse teeth. Leaflets on the lower part of the plant may be lobed in 2 or 3 parts but most leaflets are not lobed. Leaves and stems are both densely covered in long soft hairs. A plant may have multiple stems emerging from the base.

Notes:

Rough Cinquefoil can grow erect or lying on the ground with the tip of the plant rising up (decumbant). The latter seems more common when there are several stems. There are several cinquefoil species, with similar flowers. Distinguishing features are the length of the sepals relative to the petals, and the number of leaflets. Rough Cinquefoil has sepals longer than the petals, and 3 leaflets. A bunch of this stuff just appeared in my yard after a dead spruce tree was removed.

More photos

• Rough Cinquefoil plant, about 30 inches tall
• a plant just starting to bloom

Photos taken in my yard and at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN June 2008 and 2009

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?