I I 6 POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA. SHRUBBY CINQUE-FOIL. 



shores ; but as it travels farther into the State, it is found on 

 dry, rocky places in the dells. In Colorado, it grows in extremely 

 dry localities, both in the foot-hills and high up in the moun- 

 tains, and it continues in this way to vary its conditions until it 

 reaches California, where, according to the geological survey of 

 that State, it is found in Ebbetts Pass, in the Sierra Nevada, 

 and thence takes its march northward to Siberia. In Wyoming, 

 Dr. C. C. Parry tells us that, with a few other rosaceous plants, 

 it forms almost all the shrubbery they have in that treeless 

 region ; but it is only a small shrub, rarely exceeding two feet 

 high in our gardens, where it is very easily grown and very wel- 

 come on account of its profusion of bloom from July till Octo- 

 ber, and at a season of the year when few other shrubs give us 

 any flowers. 



In some parts of Connecticut, it has found the soil and climate 

 so much to its liking that it takes complete possession of the 

 ground, to the great annoyance of the agriculturist. It is 

 called " Hard Hack " in those parts ; but as this name is better 

 known in connection with SpircEa tomentosa, there is no reason 

 why it should supersede Shrubby Cinque-foil. Dr. I. H. Hall, 

 however, in the " Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club," Vol. I, 

 says that it is the P. arguta which the people of Connecticut 

 call " Hard Hack," and which is so bad a weed there. 



It is said to be a remarkable fact that, although all other 

 animals will eat Potentilla fruticosa greedily, hogs cannot be 

 persuaded, under any circumstances, to touch it. We have not 

 been able to verify this from experience, and so give it as part 

 of existing history, subject to future experiment ; for in these 

 matters repetition of observations does no harm. In some 

 parts of Europe, brooms are made of the branches, which are 

 said to be equal to heath or birch, but the plant has no known 

 use in this country. 



Explanation of the Plate. — i. A flowering branch. — 2. Calyx in full-face view, show- 

 ing its beauty for ornamental designs. — j. Calyx, showing the five inilexed, .upper sepals. 



