Potentilla biflora : Two-flowered Cinquefoil

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Genera: Potentilla (Cinquefoil) (Lat. potens=powerful; referring to the strengh of the medicine from some species)

Species: biflora (two flowered)

English Name(s):

Two-flowered Cinquefoil,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Densely caespitose (tufted) dwarf plant.
• From a branching caudex (base) densely covered by marcescent (withered), stipules (appendages).
• Stipules shiny, oblong, 1-3cm or more long, prominently viened.
• Flowering stalks 8-12cm tall.

Leaves:

• Blades trifoliate.
• Lateral leaflets deeply divided into linear divisions.
• Margins revolute (rolled under).
• Sparsely pubescent (hairy) with long white hairs.

Reproductive Parts:

• Flowering peduncles (stalks), scapose (no leaves), often with 2 flowers.
• Flowers about 1.5cm in diameter.
• Sepals and bracteoles alternating, of equal length, triangular in shape.
• Petals 5, obcordate in shape, 5-8mm long, longer than sepals, pale yellow, drying white.
• Recepticle (flower base) densely white pubescent.

Seed:

• Fruit is a small, dry, seedlike, achene (nutlet).

Not to Be Confused With:

• Potentilla bimundorum which has pinnate leaves and is taller in stature.
• Potentilla elegans (Elegent Cinquefoil) which has less deeply lobed leaves, and flowers are solitary.
• Potentilla rubricaulis (Redstem Cinquefoil) which has 5 parted leaves and well as 3 parted ones, and flower clusters are 2 to few flowered.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Leaves deciduous (falling).

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Alpine gravelly slopes.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• In astrology Potentilla are said to be governed by Jupiter.
• In the Victorian Language of Flowers these plants symbolized "beloved daughter" or " I claim, at least, your esteem".
• Potentilla were said to flourish in the gardens of witches. One of few yellow flowers they cared for.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: