Geum canadense Jacq. 



WHITE AVENS 



Rosaceae 



A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 

 L FEDERAL STATUS 



a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. 



b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 



2. STATE: G5 SU (status undetermined). In addition to the widespread 



alteration of its habitat, its few records and its low population numbers support 

 adding this species to the state list. Its state distribution has not been 

 corroborated so it remains on the watch list. 



B. DESCRIPTION 



1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Herbaceous perennial 

 with 1 -several stems, 3-10 dm (12-40 in) tall, with compound, divided leaves, 

 differing between base and stem (Figure 21). The basal leaves usually have 

 3-5 leaflets, occasionally simple. The stem leaves are similar but with short 

 petioles, becoming either more dissected or else simple above. The flowers 

 appear solitary or in an open inflorescence and have 5 white petals. The 

 mature fruiting heads are globose with a persisting segment projecting outward 

 like a bristle. 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb with short caudices of 

 horizontal rhizomes; stems 1 -several, simple, 3-10 dm tall, glabrous or 

 sparingly hirsute below, becoming densely velvety-puberulent above and on 

 pedicels, with or without scattered long hairs, rarely glandular-pubescent on 

 upper stem and pedicels. Basal leaves simple and undivided to usually having 

 3-5 larger leaflets, serrate and long petioled; cauline leaves similar, but with 

 shorter petioles and becoming temately cleft or simple above, serrate, acute, 

 stipules 1-2 cm long, ovate-oblong, entire or cleft. Flowers solitary, few or 

 several in a leafy-bracteate asymmetrical cyme. Pedicels velvety-pubescent 

 and with very sparse to somewhat dense long hairs, rarely glandular; 

 hypanthium 2.5-3 mm long, sparsely to densely pubescent; sepals 5, lanceolate 

 to lance-ovate, acuminate 4-8 mm long; petals 5, white, but becoming 

 yellowish, oblong, 5-9 mm long, equaling to longer than sepals; stamens 

 numerous. Mature fruiting heads spherical, 1-2 cm in diameter, with numerous 

 achenes; receptacle densely bristly with long hairs; body of achene 2.5-3.5 mm 



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