ROSACEyE-ROSE FAMILY 



POTENTILLA. CINQUEFOIL, FIVE FINGER 



Potentilla canadensis. 



Potentilla, a diminutive from potens, powerful; originally applied 

 because of the reputed medicinal powers of one species. 



5/e«.— Ascending or procumbent at length, oftpn rooting at the tip, 

 spreading, flowering from the node above the second internode. 



Leaves. — Three-foliate, but apparently five-foliate by the parting 

 of the lateral leaflets. 



Leaflets. — Serrate, somewhat hairy. 



Flowers. — Bright-yellow, resembling in shape small strawberry blos- 

 soms; solitary. 



Calyx. — Flat, five-cleft, with a bract at each sinus. 



Petals. — Five, roundish, yellow. 



Stamens. — Many. 



Carpels. — Many; styles thread-like. 



Akenes. — Many, forming a head, on a hairy receptacle. 



The little perennial Cinquefoil smiles in one's face from the 

 meadow path or the roadside in May. The flower looks like a 

 small strawberry blossom, only yellow. In fact there is very little 

 difference, structurally, between the Potentilla and the strawberry 

 flower, but practically there is a great deal, for one produces a 

 strawberry and the other does not. Our little plant is so common 

 that its garden value lies in its willingness to render good service 

 in the rock garden. 



There are several other native Potentillas valuable in a similar 

 way. The garden forms of the genus are somewhat trailing, 

 rather tender herbs with strawberry foliage and double buttercup- 

 like flowers of varied colors blooming more or less profusely all 



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