Potentilla fruticosa - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Rosaceae
Habitat
Calcareous habitats: boggy fens, hill prairies, interdunal ponds.
Associates
In fens with Aster borealis, Thelypteris palustris, Eupatorium maculatum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Gentiana procera, Liatris spicata, Lobelia kalmii, Lysimachia quadriflora, Lythrum alatum, Parnassia glauca, Solidago ohioensis, Solidago riddellii.
Distribution
Most of the northern hemisphere.
Morphology
Small, irregular shrub to 4' high and wide. Leaves alternate, pinnate compound, to 1" long; leaflets 3-7, typically 5, linear-oblong, acute, with revolute margins, deep green, glabrous. Flowers bright yellow, to 1.5" wide, singly or in few-flowered cymes; petals 5, blunt; stamens and pistils numerous. Fruit an achene.
Notes
Flowers late May to early October
Wetland indicator: Facultative Wetland
A popular ornamental shrub, most cultivars of P. fruticosa represent European strains. I found a native population of this species in a fen in WI that had silvery tomentose leaves and reddish stems, quite unlike anything I have seen in cultivation (Images 4 & 5).
References
Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants:
Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.
5th ed. Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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Michael Hough © 2005 |