Potentilla rubricaulis : Red-stem 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: rubricaulis (rubri = red + caulis = stem; referring to the red stems of this plant)

Synonym(s): P.furcata, P.hookeriana var furcata

English Name(s):

Red-stem Cinquefoil,

First Nation Names:

• Caespitose (tufted) plant.
• Caudex (base) stout, subligneous (subwoody), freely branching, covered by dark brown marcescent (withered) stipules (apendages).
• Stems 10-25 cm haigh, ascending, pubescent (hairy) with long and short more or less straight hairs.

Leaves:

• Quinate(5-parted) or ternate (3-parted) in some.
• Leaflets deeply narrow toothed, white-tomentos (woolly) below.
• Petioles (stalks) pubescent with long and short more or less straight hairs.
• Cauline leaves ternate and reduced above.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower cluster) 2 to few flowered.
• Sepals 5, oblong-triangular in shape, glandular under long straight hairs, shorter than petals.
• Petals 5, yellow, obovate in shape, somewhat notched at the apex, 4-5mm long.

Seed:

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

Not to Be Confused With:

• Could perhaps be mistaken for a Ranunculus (Buttercup).

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Leaves deciduous (falling).

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Steep open and rocky 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: