glaucophyl'la) , slimstem cinquefoil (P. fflipes] , and Brewer cinque- 

 foil (*. brew'eri) have increased conspicuously in meadows, parks, 

 and open-timbered areas where the more palatable and less resistant 

 plants have been impaired by excessive grazing and trampling. On 

 many areas abundance of various species of cinquefoil indicates 

 range deterioration. Most species produce numerous flowers and 

 innumerable small seeds, which appear to be of good viability. Once 

 established, most species, especially the perennials, are very tena- 

 cious and are qualified to withstand drought by virtue of their woody 

 taproots. Although generally erect, they frequently become pros- 

 trate and form small mats when subjected to heavy trampling and 

 abuse. Even under such unsatisfactory conditions, they flower and 

 produce seed. 



Many species of cinquefoil have at various times been employed 

 medicinally, principally as astringents. All parts of these plants 

 have seen such service, but particularly the roots. Tormentilla 

 (P. tormenttt'la) , a native of European meadows, is probably the 

 only species still used its roots, under the name of rccdix tormentil- 

 lae, possess value as a powerful astringent medicine. 3 Various 

 species, such as the creeping cinquefoil (P. rep' tans} of Europe, old- 

 field cinquefoil, and silver cinquefoil (P. ar gen' tea) , a native of Eu- 

 rope and Asia and probably America, have been used as astringents 

 in the treatment of dysentery, chronic catarrh, and other ailments. 4 

 The roots of tormentilla and silver cinquefoil, rich in tannin, are 

 useful in tanning and also yield a red dye. 3 



Many of the native American species of cinquefoil are rather un- 

 attractive because of their small and frequently inconspicuous flow- 

 ers. However, a large number of the cultivated hardy perennials are 

 used for border planting. The most valuable forms for garden use 

 are hybrids (mainly of Himalayan species), which frequently have 

 double flowers, many having handsome foliage and blooming freely 

 from June until August, although most profusely during late June 

 and July. The rather large and showy flowers of these hybrids are 

 chiefly maroon, scarlet, or orange in color, being frequently banded 

 attractively with yellow. These plants, which thrive in heavy soil, 

 are only moderately hardy, being best adapted for planting in the 

 more southern parts of the country. They rarely attain a height 

 of over 2 feet and require no staking, as the stems are rigid enough 

 to remain upright. Choice varieties are propagated by root di- 

 visions in the spring ; stem cuttings will not root. 



The floral characteristics of western cinquef oils are somewhat uni- 

 form, but the vegetative aspect of the different species varies con- 

 siderably. The flowers are usually borne in loose, open clusters at 

 the ends of the stems, but in a few species are solitary in the leaf 

 axils. In general, cinquefoil flowers have a cup-shaped, almost hem- 

 ispheric, base (hypanthium) ; 5 sepals, alternating with 5 sepal- 

 like bractlets; 5, mostly yellow, less frequently purple or white 

 petals ; usually 20 stamens attached in three series to the base of the 

 hypanthium; and numerous seed-producing organs (pistils). The 



8 Rydberg, P. A. A MONOGRAPH OF THE NORTH AMERICAN POTENTILLEAE. 223 pp., illus. 

 Lancaster, Pa. 1898. 



* Schneider, A. PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. Calif. State Bd. Forestry 

 Bull. 2, 175 pp. 1912. 



