Creeping Cinquefoil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Creeping Cinquefoil

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Potentilla
Species: P. reptans
Binomial name
Potentilla reptans
L.

Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) is a plant in the Rosaceae family.

It is a creeping perennial plant native to the UK and introduced to the U.S. Its trailing stems root at the nodes. Leaves are borne on long stalks. It blooms in June­ - August with yellow flowers (about 2 cm in diameter) that have 5 heart-shaped petals. It is quite common. Could be easily confused with silverweed. Some species have been used as astringents in the treatment of diarrhea, chronic catarrhs, and night sweats.

Potentilla reptans shoot morphology. Each shoot section has to bracts (α and β) and terminates with a flower (I). Bract α subtends a short assimilation shoot (II, leaves a+b), which may root (r). Bract β subtends the next runner (II). From (Warming 1884)
Potentilla reptans shoot morphology. Each shoot section has to bracts (α and β) and terminates with a flower (I). Bract α subtends a short assimilation shoot (II, leaves a+b), which may root (r). Bract β subtends the next runner (II). From (Warming 1884)