Potentilla gracilis
Encyclopedia
Potentilla gracilis, known as Slender Cinquefoil, or Graceful Cinquefoil is a species of cinquefoil.
Named varieties are:
This perennial herb is variable in morphology, growing erect stems up to a meter tall from a branching caudex
and rhizome
unit. The leaves are palmate and compound
, each divided into five to seven wide lance-shaped leaflets with toothed edges. The leaflets are hairy, with many more hairs on the undersides, making them lighter in color than the top surfaces. The basal leaves are borne on very long petioles
. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller and reduced. The inflorescence
is a cyme of several flowers, each with usually five yellow petals.
Named varieties are:
- Potentilla gracilis var. elmeri (Rydb.) Jeps. – Combleaf Cinquefoil
- Potentilla gracilis var. flabelliformis (Lehm.) Nutt.
This perennial herb is variable in morphology, growing erect stems up to a meter tall from a branching caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
and rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
unit. The leaves are palmate and compound
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
, each divided into five to seven wide lance-shaped leaflets with toothed edges. The leaflets are hairy, with many more hairs on the undersides, making them lighter in color than the top surfaces. The basal leaves are borne on very long petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller and reduced. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a cyme of several flowers, each with usually five yellow petals.