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Potentilla arguta, commonly known as the tall cinquefoil, is a perennial plant in the Rosaceae family of flowering plants native to North America. There are two accepted subspecies: Potentilla arguta arguta and Potentilla arguta convallaria, which is known as the cream cinquefoil.[1] It is thought to be a protocarnivorous plant. In his 1999 journal article, G.G. Spoomer tested several plants in the Pacific Northwest for the carnivorous syndrome, using the digestion of proteins as the diagnostic tool to determine which plants appeared to produce protease enzymes capable of breaking down potential prey. Potentilla arguta displayed a capability to digest and absorb the 14C-labeled algal protein placed on the sticky trichomes that the plant possesses. However, it is not known whether the digestive enzymes were produced by the plant itself or surface microbes.[2] Additionally, some definitions of carnivory require the plant to gain some tangible benefit in capturing and digesting prey, such as increased seed yield or growth. Such an experiment has not been done with this species.
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- ^ USDA, NRCS. (2007). Potentilla arguta. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 17 March 2007). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
- ^ Spoomer, G.G. (1999). Evidence of protocarnivorous capabilities in Geranium viscosissimum and Potentilla arguta and other sticky plants. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 160(1): 98-101.
