POTENTILLA PULCHERKIMA Lchm. Stirp. Pug. 2 : lO. 183O. 



Potentilla Hippiana pidcJiermna Wats. Proc. Am. Acad. 7 : 555. 

 (in part) 1873. 



As originally described, P. pulcJicrrima Lehm. has pinnate 

 leaves with approximate leaflets. This was undoubtedly the reason 

 why Watson united it with P. diffusa Gray. As far as I know, that 

 plant is low, ascending, and rather silky and in all respects nearest 

 related to P. Hippiana (see above), while P. pulcJienima is tall, up- 

 right, with slender erect branches and nearest related to P. gracilis 

 and P. fastigiata. Watson, during King's expedition, observed 

 the fact that P. pulclierrima had not always pinnate leaves, which, 

 in fact, is rather seldom the case, and consequently included in P. 

 Hippia7ia pidcherrima also a form with digitate leaves. The only 

 character left to distinguish forms of P. Hippiana and those of P. 

 gracilis wdiS the number of carpels, in the former 10-30, in the latter 

 40. Unfortunately the number varies even in the same individual, 

 and therefore many specimens labelled P. gracilis belong to P. //^Z- 

 cherrima. My own from the Black Hills, I unfortunately labeled 

 thus. P. pidcherriina differs from the other members of the group 

 by its leaflets, which are obovate or oblanceolate, mostly obtuse, 

 crenate, silky and green above, densely white-tomentose beneath. 

 It grows in the mountains and foot hills from New Mexico and 

 Nevada to Saskatchewan. No specimens have been seen from 

 the Pacific Slope. 



PoTENTiLLLA GRACILIS Dougl.; Hook. Bot. Mag.//. 2^84. 1829. 



The true P. gracilis is a very rare plant and confined to the 

 northern Pacific Coast. What has gone under this name is either 

 the preceding or the next following species. It differs from both 

 in the narrow leaflets, which are oblanceolate, acute, and coarsely 

 toothed with triangular teeth of the same form as in P. recta. The 

 leaves are only slightly silky above and finely tomentose beneath, 

 and the branches of the cyme are very slender and erect. The 

 following specimens have been examined : 



Oregon: Douglas; Tolmie, 1851 ; E. Hall, no. 136, 1871. 

 Washington: Dr. Ruhn ; Wilke's Expedition, no. 141. Vancouvef 

 Island: John Macoun, no. 182, 1893. Kodiak Island : (Collector 

 not given). 



