| Potentilla reptans | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Potentilla |
| Species: | P. reptans |
| Binomial name | |
| Potentilla reptans L. |
|
Potentilla reptans, known as the creeping cinquefoil, European cinquefoil or creeping tormentil, 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. The butterfly known as the Grizzled Skipper is known to favour this plant which is often found growing in crushed masonry in the South of England.
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)]]